[5]: 9 Medieval Roman and canon law graded presumptions according to strength: light, medium or probable, and violent.
[5]: 20–23 These gradings and many individual presumptions were taken over into English law in the seventeenth century by Edward Coke.
In Australian law, it is a conclusive presumption that no child under the age of 10 can be held responsible for criminal action.
[20] This presumption exists to protect children by acknowledging that they do not have sufficient development to understand the gravity and consequences of committing a criminal act.
The age has continually been under debate with adjustments being made in line with rulings, the results of psychological research and to some extent public pressure.