MURDER’S TIME LIMIT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2433, 23 February 1909, Page 3

MURDER’S TIME LIMIT.

AN INTERESTING POINT. It will certainly he a surprise to ,moist people to learn that there is a time-limit, viz., a year and a day, within which anyone can he held responsible for causing his own death or that of another. Tho point was brought up at an inquest held by Air AY. Schroder in Paddington (London) recently, when the Coroner made a statement to the above effect. A legal authority who was appealed to by a representative of the “Observer,” confirmed Air Schroder’s opinion, and quoted the following passage .from (Stephen’s “Digest of the Criminal Law” : “A person is not deemed to have committed homicide, although his conduct may have caused death ,(a) when the death takes place more than a year and a day after the injury causing it. In computing the period the day on which the injury is inflicted is to be accounted as the first day.” As a reason for this provision this authority pointed out that it was manifestly convenient to fix a term within- which a man could be held responsible for causing another’s death. The limit, however, only had referenco to the- capital offence of murder, which jnnst be committed “with malice jiforethought.” A man conkl be indicted on minor charges after the period named. The odd day was, no doubt, -allowed so that the clear year might bo claimed and to avoid disputes. . In the case of a man who died from the effects of injuries inflicted by his own hands, but 'after tlio expiration of a year and a day fvom the commission of the act, lie likewise could not be held to have committed suicide.