MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES
JURIES' RELUCTANCE TO CONVICT. By TtleeraDli-Prepn Aaaooiatlon. Hamilton, August 31. At the Supreme Court Mr, Justice Stringer congratulated tPio district on the absence of crime during tho past three months. There was only ono criminal caso on the list, a charge of manslaughter against J. C. Johnstone arising out of a motor Rcoidenti.
His-Honour added that it was a matter for regret that these oases of death caused by negligence, in suck*circumstances as tlio present, should b« designa'kd _ "manslaughter." Wanslaughter, in the minds of people generally, was regarded ns a mitigated form of murder, and that being tho case, there was, unquestionably, extreme reluctance to convibt on a charge of manslaughter when no intentional injury was done. His Honour also said that it was imperative that nersons driving motors should have a full sense of responsibility. If juries failed to convict even in oases where the evidence of negligence was very clear, the law should be altered and a charga of *l!iis nature should be designated' "criminal negUgence." The crime of manslaughter included a wide range of offences, which might be punishable by a mere fine, or a short term of imprisonment, or might even bo difficult to distinguish from actual murder. In eases where death' was caused by the neulccft of another person, filled "crftmnal neglect." juries would not have the same reluctance to convict and the punishment should be adjusted in such a way as to deprivo the convicted person nf .tho right to control in future, the particular instrument whioh caused the accident or, at any rate, for a definite time.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 290, 1 September 1920, Page 6
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266MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 290, 1 September 1920, Page 6
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