[2001] EWCA Crim 2534

For the protection of the individual's liberty the courts carefully guarded the need for care and accuracy in the terms of an indictment, and the difference between a fundamental error and a correctable error was of great importance. Where a count omitted any reference to the essence of the offence the count was defective and did not contain an offence known to the law.

CA (Crim Div) (Laws LJ, Sir Brian Smedley, Judge Rant QC)

31/10/2001