ARRANGEMENT OF SE~TIONS
1. Short title.
-THE OFFENCES AGAINST
Z
Homicide
2. Murder.
THE PERSON ACT
3. Sentence for murder.
Sentence of death not to be passed on pregnant woman.
Procedure where woman convicted bfcapital offence alleges she is
pregnant.
3A. Procedure regarding murder charge.
3 B. [Repealed by Act I of2005.1
3C. Provisions as to appeals in relation to repeated and multiple
murders.
30 . Provisions as to procedure regarding two or more murders tried
together.
4. Abolition of "constructive malice".
5. Persons suffering from diminished responsibility.
6. Provocation.
7. Suicide pact.
I
8. Conspiring or soliciting to commit murder.
9. Manslaughter. I
10. Excusable homicide. ~
1 1. Petit treason. 1 12. Provision for trial of certain cases o murder or manslaughter.
4
I Attempts to ~ u A d e r
~ -8 13. Administering poison, or wounding with intent to murder. 14, Destroying or damaging building with intent to murder.
I I
15. Setting fire to ship, etc., with intent to murder.
16. Attempting to administer poison, eti., with intent to murder.
17. By other means attempting to comdit murder.
I
Letters Threatening /o Murder
1 - I
i 18. Letters threatening to murder. i
I
J
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2 OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
Acts Causing or Tending to Cause Danger to Life, or Bodily Harm
19. Preventing person endeavouring to save his life in shipwreck.
20. Shooting or attempting to shoot or wounding with intent to do I
grievous bodily harm.
2 1. What shall be deemed loaded arms.
22. Unlawful wounding.
23. Attempting to choke, etc., in order to commit indictable offence.
24. Administering drug with intent to commit indictable offence.
25. Administering poison so as to endanger life or inflict grievous
0
bodily harm.
26. Administering poison with intent to injure or annoy.
27. Jury may acquit of felony, and find guilty of misdemeanour.
28. Abandoning or exposing child whereby life endangered.
29. Causing bodily injury by explosion of gunpowder.
30. Causing gunpowder to explode, etc., with intent to do grievous
-bodily harm.
3 1. Placing wood on railway, etc., with intent to endanger safety of
passengers.
32. Doing anything to endanger safety of passengers on railway.
33. Genocide.
Assaults
34. Obstructing clergyman in the performance of his duties.
35. Assaulting magistrate when preserving wreck.
36. Assault with intent to commit felony, or on constable, etc.
37. Hindering seaman from working at his trade, etc.
38. Using violence to deter person from buying or selling.
39. Summary jurisdiction to try common assaults.
40. Aggravated assaults on women or children.
4 1 . Justices may dismiss complaint, certifying dismissal.
42. Certificate or conviction to be a bar to further proceedings.
43. Punishment for common and aggravated assaults.
i" 47. f~~~~~~~ by Act 12 of2009.] I '
48.
lThe ~ncluslon of this page 1s author17rd by I. \ 123120111
Suppression ?f ~jothels
68. Search warrants. I
Child stealiJg
69. Child stealing.
70. Kidnapping.
Bigarny
71. Bigamy.
Provision as to evidence.
72. Administering drugs or using
73. Procuring drugs, etc., to procure abbrtion.
I
Concealing the ~irthl of a Child
74. Concealment of birth.
Infanticide
75. Offence of infanticide. ~
lThe inclusion o f this page is authokized by LA. 123120111
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
Unnatural Oflences
76. Unnatural crime.
77. Attempt.
Proof of Carnal Knowledge
78. Proof of carnal knowledge.
Olrtrages on Decency
79. Outrages on decency.
Other Matters
80. Apprehension without warrant.
8 1. Punishment of principals in second degree and accessories.
82. Fines and sureties for good behaviour.
83. Conviction not to be quashed for want of form, etc.
84. Costs on prosecution for assault.
85. Recovery of costs by distress.
(The inclusion of this page is authorized by L.N. 123nOll]
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON 5
Cap. 268. Sc h.,
THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE
Laws 34 of 1973.
43 of 1958. 1 of 1979
PERSON ACT 15 of 1962
S. 35,
Sch.
Acts
42 of 1963
ll86d.I 3, ti h,
44 of 1968.
42 of 1969
3rd Sch.,
9 of 1972
1st Sch.,
30 of 1988,
14 of 1992,
31 of 1995
S. 4,
1 of 2005,
3 of 2006,
12 of 2009
S. 42.
18 of 2010.
1. This Act may be cited as the Offences against the Person Shon title.
Act.
Homicide *
2.-(1) Subject to subsection (3), every person to whom sec- Murder.
141 1992 tion 3(1A) applies or who is convicted of murder committed in s, 2.
any of the following circumstances shall be sentenced in accor- 112005
dance with section 3(l)(a), that is to say- s. 2(a)(b).
I (a) any murder- 312006
S. 2(a).
(i) committed by a person if, in the course or fur-
therance of, arising out of, or ancillary to, that
murder, the person commits an offence referred
to in subsection (1 A); or
(ii) committed by a person in the course or fur-
therance of, arising out of. or ancil1:ary to, an
offence referred to in subsection (1 A),
whether or not the individual murdered was an individual that
the offender intended to murder in committing the offence;
(b) the murder of-
(i) a member of the security forces acting in the
execution of his duties or of a person assisting a
member so acting;
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OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
(ii) a correctional officer acting in the execution of
his duties or of a person assisting a correctional
officer so acting;
(iii) a judicial officer acting in the execution of his
duties; or
(iv) any person acting in the execution of his duties,
being a person who, for the purpose of carrying
out those duties, is vested under the provisions
of any law in force for the time being with
0
the same powers, authorities and privileges as
are given by law to members of the Jamaica
Constabulary Force,
or the murder of any such member of the security
forces, correctional officer, judicial officer or person
for any reason directly attributable to the nature of his
occupation;
(c) the murder of any person -for any reason directly
attributable t o -
(i) the status of that person as a witness or in
a pending or concluded civil cause or matter or
in any criminal proceedings; or
(ii) the service or past service of that person as a
juror in any criminal trial;.
(4 the murder of a Justice of the Peace acting in the exe-
cution of his judicial functions;
t
(e) any murder committed pursuant to an arrangement
whereby money or anything of value-
(i) passes or is intended to pass from one person to
another or to a third party at the request or
0
direction of that other persori; or
(ii) is promised by one person to another or to a
third person at the request or direction of that
other person,
[The inclusion of this page is authorized by L.N. 92c/2012]
OFFENCES AGAINST TIYE PERSON
as consideration for that other person causing or
assisting in causing the death of any person or
counselling or procuring any person to do any act
causing or assisting in causing that death;
(f) any murder committed by a person in the course
or furtherance of an act involving the use of violence
by that person which, by reason of its nature and
extent, is calculated to create a state of fear in the
public or any section of the public.
(1A) For the purposes of subsection (l)(a), the offences 3m06
referred to in this subsection are- S.2(b).
(a) burglary or housebreaking;
(b) arson in relation to a dwelling house;
(c) robbery; or
(4 any sexual offence.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), every person convicted of lnws
murder other than a person- s. 2(c).
(a) convicted of murder in the circumstances specified in
subsection (l)(a) to (f); or
(b) to whom section 3(1A) applies,
shall be sentenced in accordance with section 3(l)(b).
(3) If in the case of any murder referred to in subsection lnws
(1) (not being a murder referred to in paragraph (e) of that s. 2(c).
subsection), two or more persons are convicted of tbat
murder-
(a) the provisions of section 3(l)(a) shall apply to any of
those persons who-
(i) by his own act caused the death of, or inflicted
or attempted to inflict grievous bodily harm on,
the person murdered; or
(ii) himself used violence on that person in the
course' or furtherance of an attack on that
person; and
pie inclusion of this page is authorired by LN. 80~t2008]
OFFENCES AGANST THE PERSON
(b) any other persons convicted of the murder shall be
sentenced in accordance with section 3(l)(b).
(4 ) [Deleted by Act I of 2005.1
(5) In this section-
"correctional officer" has the same meaning as in the
Corrections Act;
"judicial officer" means-
(a) a Judge of the Supreme Court or the
Court of Appeal, the Master in Chambers or any
person for the time being performing the func-
tions of a Judge of the Supreme Court or Court of
Appeal or of the Master in Chambers;
(b) the Registrar or Deputy Registrar of the Supreme
Court, the Revenue Court or the Court of Appeal
or any person for the time being performing the
functions of Registrar or Deputy Registrar;
(c) a Resident Magistrate or any person for the time
being performing the functions of a Resident
~ a ~ i s k a t e ;
(4 a person employed in a court's office who carries
out prosecution of offences or in the Office of the
Director of Public Prosecutions or engaged to
carry out functions on behalf of the Director of
Public Prosecutions;
"member of the security forces" means a member of-
(a) the Jamaica Constabulary Force;
(b) the Jamaica Defence Force to the extent that such
member has been assigned to act in aid of the
Police;
(c) the Island Special Constabulary Force;
(4 the Rural Police.
Sentence for
murder.
3.-(1) Every person who is convicted of murder falling
112005 within-
s. 3(a)(b).
[The inclusion of this page istauthorizuJ by L.N. 80d20081
OFFENCES AGAINST W E PERSON
(a) section 2(l)(a) to V) or to whom subsection (1A)
applies, shall be sentenced to death or to imprison-
ment for life;
(b) section 2(2), shall be sentenced to imprisonment for
life or such other term as the court considers
appropriate, not being less than fifteen years.
(1A) This subsection applies to a person who is convicted moos
of murder and who, before that conviction, has been convicted S. 3(b).
in Jamaica-
(a) whether before or after the 14th October, 1992, of
another murder done on a different occasion; or
(b) of another murder done on the same occasion.
(1B) Where a court pronounces a sentence of death m ~ s
pursuant to subsection (l)(a)- s. 3(c).
(a) the form of the sentence shall be to the effect only
that the person is to "suffer death in the manner
authorized by law";
(b) every person 'so sentenced shall, after sentence, be
confined to some safe place within the correctional
institution, apart from all other inmates; and
(c) the sentence may be carried into execution as here-
tofore has been the practice.
(1C) In the case of a person convicted of murder, the lnms
following provisions shall have effect with regard to that s. 3(c).
person's eligibility for parole, as if those provisions had been
substituted for section 6(1) to (4).of the Parole Act-
(a) where a court imposes a sentence of imprisonment for
life pursuant to subsection (l)(a), the court shall
specify a period, being not less than twenty years,
which that person should serve before becoming
eligible for parole; or
(b) where, pursuant to subsection (l)(b), a court
imposes-
(i) a sentence of imprisonment for life, the court
shall specify a period, being not less than
fifteen years; or
(ii) any other sentence of imprisonment, the court
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OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
Sentence of
death not to be
passed on
Pregnant
woman.
4211969
3rd Sch.
112005
S. 3(d).
Procedure
where womw
convicted of
capital offence
alleges she is
pregnant.
1 12005
S. 3(e).
shall specify a period, being not' less
than ten years,
which that person should serve before becoming eligible for
parole.
(ID) A person shall not be sentenced to death under this
section by reason of a previous conviction for murder referred to
in subsection (1A) unless-
(a) at least seven days before the trial, notice is given to
him that it is intended to prove the previous
conviction; and
(b) before he is sentenced, his previous conviction for
murder is admitted by him or is found to be proven
by the trial Judge.
(1E) Before sentencing a person under subsection (I),
the court shall hear submissions, representations and evidence,
from the prosecution and the defence, in relation to the issue of
the sentence to be passed.
(2) Where a woman is convicted of murder falling
within section 2(l)(a) to V) or to whom subsection (1A) applies
is found in accordance with the provisions of this section to be
pregnant, the sentence to be passed on her shall be any sentence
of imprisonment that may be imposed under subsection (l)(b)
instead of sentence of death.
(3) Where a woman convicted of murder falling within
section 2(l)(a) to V) or to whom subsection (1A) applies alleges
that she is pregnant, or where the court before whom a woman is
so convicted thinks fit so to order, the question whether or not
the woman is pregnant shall, before sentence is passed on her,
be determined by a jury.
(4) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, the said
jury shall be the trial jury, that is to say the jury to whom she
was given in charge to be tried for the offence, and the members
of the jury need not be re-sworn:
Provided that-
[The inclusion of chis page is authorid by LN. 80d2008]
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
(a) if any member of the trial jury, after the conviction,
, dies or is discharged by the court as being through
illness incapable of continuing to act or for any other
cause, the inquiry as to whether or not the woman is
pregnant shall proceed without him; and
(b) where there is no trial jury, or where a jury have dis-
agreed as to whether the woman is or is not pregnant,
or have been discharged by the court without giving a
verdict on that question, the jury shall be constituted
as if to try whether or not she was fit to plead, and
shall be sworn in such manner as the court may direct.
(5) The question whether the woman is pregnant or not
shall be determined by the jury on such evidence as may be laid
before them either on the part of the woman or on the part of the
Crown, and the jury shall find that the woman is not pregnant
unless it is proved affirmatively to their satisfaction that she is
pregnant.
(6) Where on proceedings under this section the jury Wl%2
find that the woman in question is not pregnant the woman may S. 35.
appeal under the Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) Act, to the
Court of Appeal and that Court, if satisfied that for any reason
the finding should be set aside, shall quash the sentence passed
on her and instead thereof pass on her any sentence of 42/1969
imprisonment that may be imposed under subsection (l)(b): 3rd S C ~ .
1/2005
Prokided that the operation of the provisions of this s.s(r).
subsection shall be deemed to be coincident with the operation
of the Judicature (Appellate Jurisdiction) Act.
3A.-(1) On an indictment charging a person with murder b e d u =
=garding falling within section 2(1), he may be found not guilty of such
murder but guilty of murder falling within section 2(2). charge.
ID005
(2) For the purpose of any appeal against conviction, s.4.
murder falling within section 2(1) shall be treated as a distinct
offence from murder falling within section 2(2).
(3) Where on an appeal against a conviction of
murder-
[The inclusion of lhia pap is aIllhmiad by LN. 80d2008]
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
Provisions as
to appeals in
dation to
repeated and
multiple
murders.
14/1992
.S. 4.
(a) falling within section 2(l)(a) to 0; and
(b) for which the appellant has been sentenced to death,
the Court substitutes a verdict of guilty of murder falling within
section 2(2), the Court shall nevertheless determine whether a
sentence of death is the appropriate sentence by virtue of section
3(1A) and shall confirm that sentence if it is so found to be
appropriate.
(4) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this section,
murder falling within section 2(1) shall not be treated, for any
purpose, as a different offence fi-om murder falling within
section 2(2).
3B. [Repealed by Act 1 of 2005. ]
3C.-(1) Where a person is sentenced to death by virtue of
subsection (IA) of section 3, he shall have the like right of
appeal against the sentence as if the appeal were against a
conviction involving sentence of death.
(2) On any such appeal against sentence, the Court shall
have the same powers as to allowing or dismissing the appeal as
on an appeal against a conviction; and where the Court allows
the appeal, and it appears to the Court that, having regard to the
decision on the appeal, the sentence is not warranted in law, the
Court shall quash the sentence and pass the appropriate sentence
in substitution for it.
(3) Where a person is sentenced to death under
subsection (1A) of section 3 (which relates to more than one
conviction for murder) and afterwards one of the convictions is
set aside on appeal-
(a) that person may apply to the Court of Appeal to set
aside the sentence of death on the ground that it is no
longer warranted in law having regard to the decision
on appeal; and
(b) whether or not an application is made under para-
graph (a), the Registrar of the Court of Appeal shall
notify the Court that the sentence is one which should
be set aside on the ground referred to in that
paragraph,
[The inclusion of this page is aluhoripd by LN. 80d2008)
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON 9
done by him in pursuance of the pact unless it is done
while he has the settled intention of dying in pursuance of
the pact.
8. All persons who shall conspire, confederate, and Conspiring
agree to murder any person, whether he be a subject of Her tocommit
Majesty or not, and whosoever shall solicit, encourage, murder.
persuade, or endeavour to persuade, or shall propose to
any person to murder any other person, whether he be a
subject of Her Majesty or not, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanour, and being convicted thereof, shall be liable,
to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten years, with 42/1969
or without hard labour.
or soliciting
3rd Sch.
9. Whosoever shall be convicted of manslaughter shall Man-
be liable to be imprisoned for life, with or without hard 42/1969
labour, or to pay such fine as the court shall award in 3rdSEh.
addition to or without any such other discretionary punish-
ment as aforesaid.
daughter.
10. No punishment or forfeiture shall be incurred by Excusable
any person who shall kill aaother by misfortune, or in his homicide.
own defence, or in any other manner without felony.
1837, would have amounted to petit treason, shall be
deemed to be murder only, and no greater offence; and
all persons guilty in respect thereof, whether as principals
or accessories, shall be dealt with, indicted, tried, and
punished as principals and accessories in murder.
11. Every offence which, before the fourth day of March, petit
12. Where any person, being feloniously stricken, Provigion
poisoned, or otherwise hurt upon the sea, or at any place artaincaaea
out of this Island, shall die of such stroke, poisoning, or zeAF
hurt in this Island, or being feloniously stricken, poisoned slaughter.
or otherwise hurt at any place in this Island, shall die of
for toal of
me inclusion of this psge ia authorized by L.N. 480/1973]
10 OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
such stroke, poisoning or hurt upon the sea, or at any
place out of this Island, every offence committed in respect
of any such case, whether the same shall amount to the
offence of murder or manslaughter, or of being accessory
to murder or manslaughter, may be dealt with, enquired
of, tried, determined, and punished in the parish in which
such death, stroke, poisoning, or hurt shall happen, in the
same manner in all respects as if such offence had been
wholly committed in that parish.
Attempts to Murder
Administer-
ing poiion.
or wound.ng
with intent
to murder.
13. Whosoever shall administer to, or cause to be
administered to, or to be taken by any person, any poison
or other destructive thing, or shall, by any means whatso-
ever, wound, or cause any grievous bodily harm to any
person, with intent, in any of the cases aforesaid, to commit
murder, shall be guilty of felony, and, being convicted
thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned for life, with or 4z/1969
3rd Sch. without hard labour.
Destroying 14. Whosoever, by the explosion of gunpowder or other
rddcm explosive substance, shall destroy or damage any building,
to withintent murder. with intent to commit murder, shall be guilty of felony,
42/ 1969 and being convicted thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned
for life, with or without hard labour.
3rd Sch.
Settingfire 15. Whosoever shall set 6re to any ship or vessel or any s$:;zzB part thereof, or any part of the tackle, apparel or furniture
tomurder. thereof, or any goods or chattels being therein, or shall
cast away or destroy, or attempt to destroy, any ship or
vessel, with intent in any of such cases to commit murder,
shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof, shall
be liable to be imprisoned for life, with or without hard
labour.
42/1%9
3rd sch.
me inclusion of this page is authorized by L.N. 480/1973]
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON 1 1
16. Whosoever shall attempt to administer to, or shall attempt Attempting
to cause to be administered to, or be taken by any person, any ~ t , " ~ ~ ~ O n ,
poison or other destructive thing, or shall shoot at any person, or etc., with
shall by drawing a trigger, or in any other manner, attempt to :frT2
discharge any kind of loaded arms at any person, with intent, in
any of the cases aforesaid, to commit murder, shall, whether any
bodily injury be effected or not, be guilty of felony, and being
convicted thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned for life, with 4211969
or without hard labour. 3rd S C ~ .
17. Whosoever shall, by any means other than those specified ~ y o t h e r
means in any of the preceding sections of this Act, attempt to commit
murder, shall be guilty of felony, and, being convicted thereof to commit
shall be liable to be imprisoned for life, with or without hard yi$l,j
labour. 3rd sch
Letters Threatening to Murder
18. Whosoever shall maliciously send, deliver, or utter or Letters
threatening directly or indirectly cause to be received, knowing the contents
thereof, any letter or writing threatening to kill or murder any
person, shall be guilty of felony, and, being convicted thereof,
shall be liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten 4211969
years, with or without hard labour. 3rd Sch
A& Causing or Tending to Cause Danger to Lif , or
Bodily Harm
19. Whosoever shall un l ah l ly and maliciously prevent or Preventing
impede any person being on board of, or having quitted any ship ~ ~ ~ e ~ O u r -
or vessel which shall be in distress, or wrecked, stranded, or cast ing to save
his life in on shore, in his endeavour to save his life, or shall u n l a h l l y or shipwreck.
maliciously prevent or impede any person in his endeavours to
save the life of any such person as in this section first aforesaid,
0
shall be guilty of felony, and, being convicted thereof, shall be
liable to be imprisoned for life, with or without hard labour. 421 969 3rd Sch.
20.--(I) Subject to subsection (2), whosoever, shall unlaw- Shootingot
attempting fully and maliciously, by any means whatsoever, wound, or toshootor
cause any grievous bodily harm to any person, or shoot at any wounding
with intent to person, or, by drawing a trigger, or in any other manner attempt do
to discharge any kind of loaded arms at any person, with intent bodily harm.
1812010
in any of the cases aforesaid, to maim, disfigure or disable any s. 2(a1(b1.
' [ p e inclusion of this page is authorized by L.N. 92~120 121
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERTON
person, or to do some other grievous bodily harm to any person,
or 'with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or
detainer or any person, shall be guilty of felony, and, being
42/1969 convicted thereof, shall be liable, to be imprisoned for life with
3rd sch. or without hard labour.
18/2010
S. 2(c). (2) A person who is convicted before a Circuit Court -
(a) shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm or
with intent to resist or prevent the lawful appre-
hension or detainer of any person; or
I
(b) wounding with intent, with use of a firearm,
shall be liable to imprisonment for life, or such other term, not
being less than fifteen years, as the Court considers appro-
priate.
(3) In this section, "firearm" has the meaning assigned
to it by section 2 of the Firearms Act.
What shall
be deemed
loaded arms.
21. Any gun, pistol, or other arms which shall be loaded in
the barrel with gun powder, or any other explosive substance,
and ball, shot, slug, or other destructive material, shall be
deemed to be loaded arms within the meaning of this Act,
'although the attempt to discharge the same may fail from want
of proper priming, or from any other cause.
Unlawful
wounding.
4 2 1 969
3rd Sch.
Attempting
to choke,
etc., in order
to commit
indictable
offence. .
22. Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously wound or
inflict any grievous bodily harm upon any other person, either
with or without any weapon or instrument, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanour, and, being convicted thereof, shall be liable to
be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years, with or
without hard labour.
23. Whosoever .shall, by any means whatsoever, attempt to
choke, suffocate, or strangle any other person, or shall by any
means calculated to choke, suffocate, or strangle, attempt to
render any other person insensible, unconscious, or incapable
of resistance, with intent in any ofsuch cases thereby to - enable
[The inclusion of this page is authorized by L.N. 92~/2012]
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON 13
himself, or any other person to commit, or with intent in any of
such cases thereby to assist any other person in committing, any
indictable offence, shall be guilty of felony, and, being
convicted thereof, shall be liable to imprisoned for life, with or 4211969
without hard labour. , 3rd Sch.
24. Whosoever shall unlawfully apply or administer to, or Administer-
cause to be taken by, or attempt to apply or administer to, or :~izknt
attempt to cause to be administered to or taken by, any person, tocommit
indictable any chloroform, laudanum, or other stupefying or overpowering ofience,
drug, matter, or thing, with intent, in any of such cases, thereby
to enable himself, or any other person to commit, or with intent
in any of such cases thereby to assist any other person in com-
mitting, any indictable offence, shall be guilty of felony, and,
being convicted thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned for life, 42I1969
with or without hard labour. 3rd Sch.
25. Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously administer
to, or cause to be administered to or taken by any other person,
any poison or other destructive or noxious thing so as thereby
to endanger the life of such person, or so as thereby to inflict
upon such person any grievous bodily harm, shall be guilty of
felony, and being convicted thereof,. shall be liable to be
imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten years, with or without
hard labour.
Administer-
ing poison
SO as to
endanger
life or
inflict
grievous
bodily
harm.
4211969
3rd Sch.
26. Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously administer Administer- ing polson
to, or cause to be administered to or taken by any other withintent
person, any poison or other destructive or noxious thing, with to injureor
intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy such person, shall be guilty annoy.
of a misdemeanour, and, being convicted thereof, shall be liable
to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years, with or 42/1969
without hard labour. 3rd Sch.
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Jury may
acquit of
felony, and
find guilty
of rnis-
demeanour.
Abandoning
ot exposing
child
whereby
life
endangered.
421 1969
3rd Sch.
Causing
bodily injuy
by explosion
of gun-
powder.
421 1969
3rd Sch.
Causing
gunpowder
to explode.
etc.. with
intent to
do grievous .
bodily harm.
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
27. If, upon the trial of any person for any felony men-
tioned in section 25, the jury shall not be satisfied that such per-
son is guilty thereof, but shall be satisfied that he ,is .guilty
of any misdemeanour mentioned in section 26, then and in
every such case, the jury may acquit the accused of-such
felony, and find him guilty of such misdemeanour and there-
upon he shall be liable to be punished in the same
manner as if convicted upon an indictment for such mis-
"* demeanour.
28. Whosoever shall unlawfully abandon or expose any
child, being under the age of two years, whereby the life of such
child. shall be endangered. or the health 'of such child shall
have been or shall be likely to be permanently injured. shall '
be guilty of a misdemeanour. and. being convicted thereof. shall
be liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three +
years, with or without hard labour.
29. Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously by the
explosion of gunpowder or other explosive substance. burn.
maim. disfigure. disable. or do any grievous bodily harm to
any person. shall be guilty of felony and, being convicted there-
of, shall be liable to be imprisoned for life, with.or without hard
labour.
30. Whosoever shall unlawfUlly and maliciously cause any
gunpowder or other explosive substance to explode. or send
or deliver to, or cause to be taken or received by any person any
explosive substance, or any other dangerous or noxious thing, or
put or lay at any place, or cast or throw at or upon, or otherwise
apply to any person, any corrosive fluid, or any destructive or
explosive substance, with intent, in any 'of the cases aforesaid,
to burn, maim, disfigure, or disable any person, or to do
some grievous bodily harm to any person, shall, whether any
bodily injury be effected or not, be guilty of felony, and, being
[The inclusion of this page is authorized by L.N. 92~/2012]
OFFENCES AGAlNST THE PERSON 15
convicted thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned for life, 42/15-69
with or without hard labour. 3rd Sch.
31. Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously put or madne
throw upon or across any railway or tramway any wood, zca;pctc.,
stone, or other matter or thing, or shall unlawfully and withintcat
maliciously take up, remove or displace any rail, sleeper, safetyof
or other matter or thing belonging to any railway or pa==ngers.
tramway, or shall unlawfully and maliciously turn, move
or divert any points or other machinery belonging to any
railway or tramway, or shall unlawfully and maliciously
make or show, hide or remove any signal or light upon or
near to any railway or tramway, or shall unlawfully and
maliciously do or cause to be done any other matter or
thing, with intent, in any of the cases aforesaid, to
endanger the safety of any person travelling or being upon
such railway or tramway, shall be guilty of felony, and
being convicted thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned ;;Jk,;
for life, with or without hard labour.
to endanger
32. Whosoever, by any unlawful act, or by any wilful Doing
omission or neglect, shall endanger or cause to be gpifp
endangered, the safety of any person conveyed by or being gzn;:n
in or upon a railway or tramway, or shall aid or assist onrailway.
therein, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and, being con-
victed thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned for a term
not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour.
33.-(1) Whosoever shall advocate or promote genocide Genocide.
441 1968 is guilty of an indictable offence and shall be liable to be s.2.
imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten years, with or with-
out hard labour.
(2) In this section “genocide” means any of the
following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole
or in part, any national, ethnical, racial or religious group,
as such-
me inclusion of this page is authorized by L.N. 48011973]
16 OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
(a) killing members of the group;
(6) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members
of the group;
(4 deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of
life calculated to bring about its physical destruc-
tion in whole or in part;
(4 imposing measures intended to prevent births
within the group;
(4 forcibly transferring children of the group to
another group.
A ssuulrs
34. Whosoever shall, by threats or force, obstruct or
prevent, or endeavour to obstruct and prevent, any clergy-
man or other minister in or from celebrating divine service,
or otherwise officiating in any church, chapel, meeting-
house, or other place of divine worship, or in or from the
performance of his duty in the lawful burial of the dead in
any church-yard or other burial place, or shall strike, or
offer any violence to, or shall, upon any civil process, or
under the pretence of executing any civil process, arrest
any clergyman or other minister who is engaged in or to
the knowledge of the offender is about to engage in, any
of the rites or duties in this section aforesaid, or who, to
the knowledge of the offender, shall be going to perform the
same or returning from the verformance thereof, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanour, and, being convicted thereof,
shall be liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding
two years, with or without hard labour.
Obstructing
intheper-
hisdutia.
clergyman
formancc of
*ss?di"g
when
35. Whosoever shall assault and strike or wound any
magistrate, officer, or other person whatsoever lawfully
authorized, in or on account of the exercise of his duty in
or concerning the preservation of any vessel in distress,
magsmte
preserving
wreck.
mic inclusion of this page is authorized by L.N. 480/19731
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON 17
or of any vessel, goods, or effects wrecked, stranded, or
cast on shore, or lying under water, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanour, and, being convicted thereof, shall be liable 421 1 9 a
to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding seven years,
with or without hard labour.
3rd Sch.
34 Whosoever shall assault any person with intent to .q$Tauitwith
intent 10 commit felony or shall assault, resist, or wilfully obstruct commit
any constable or peace officer in the due execution of ~ ~ o ~ & O - o '
his duty, or any person acting in the aid of such officer, or .table,*
shall assault any person with intent to resist or prevent the
lawful apprehension of himself or any other person for any
offence, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and beiig
convicted thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned for a term
not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour.
37. Whosoever shall unlawfully, and with force, hinder Hindering
or prevent any seaman or person labouring on board any
vessel from working at or exercising his lawful trade, hishade.
business, or occupation, or shall beat or use any violence
to any such person, with intent to hinder or prevent him
from working at or exercising the same, shall, on summary
conviction, be liable to imprisonment with hard labour for
a term not exceeding three months.
seaman from
mrtim Et
etc.
38. Whosoever shall beat, or use any violence or threat Using
violena to of violence to any person, with intent to deter or hinder deterpernon
him from buying, selling, or otherwise disposing of, or to f&o;:;T%
compel him to buy, sell, or otherwise dispose of any
poultry, hogs, grain, fruit., or fish, or other provisions or
food in any market or other place, or shall beat, or use
any such violence or threats to any person having the care
or charge of any poultry, hogs, grain, fruit or fish, or other
provisions, whilst on the way to or from any city, market,
town or other place in this 'Tsland, with intent to stop the
[TZle-i~clusion ofthis is au&orized by L.N. 951 19971
I 8 OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
Summary
jurisdiction
try
common
8553 U1 b.
31/1995
s. 4.
ALBraVtttCd
assaults on
womeo or
children.
31 11995 s. 4.
conveyance of the same, shall, on summary conviction, be
liable to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a
term not exceeding three months.
39. Where any person shall unlawfully assault or beat
any other person, two Justices, upon complaint by or on
behalf of the party aggrieved, may hear and determine
such offence, and the offender shall, upon summary
conviction, be liable to imprisonment with or without hard
labour, for a term not exceeding two months, or else shall
forfeit and pay such fine not exceeding, together with costs
(if ordered) the sum of one thousand dollars; and if such
fine as shall be so awarded, together with the costs, if
ordered, shall not be paid either immediately after convic-
tion, or within such perid as shall at the time of the con-
viction be appointed, the offender may be committed to
imprisonment with or without hard labour, for a term not
exceeding two months unless such fine and costs be sooner
paid.
40. When any person shall be charged before a court of
summary jurisdiction with an assault or battery upon any
male child whose age shall not, in the opinion of such
court, exceed fourteen years, or upon any female either
upon the complaint of the party aggrieved or otherwise,
the said court, if the assault or battery is of such an
aggravated nature that it cannot, in their opinion, be
saciently punished under the provisions hereinbefare
contained as to common assaults and batteries, may
proceed to hear and determine the same in a summary
way, and if the same be proved, may convict the prisoner
accused; and every such offender shall be liable to
imprisonment with or without hard labour for a term not
exceeding six months, or to pay a fine not exceeding
(together with costs) the s u m of two thousand dollars, and, if
the court shall so think fit, in any of the said cases, shall be
me inclasEon of this -is a d m r k d bm. 9 5 / I m
OFFENCES AGAINST
41. If the court, upon the hearing ok any such case of assault :ziE may
and battery upon the merits, where thk complaint was preferred complain'
0
by or on behalf of the party aggrieve/i under either section 39 aai?'ing dism~ssal.
or sectionko shall deem the offence not to be proved, or shall
find the assault or battery to have bee4 justified, or so trifling as
not to merit any punishment, and shall accordingly dismiss the
complaint, the court shall forthwith ldake out a certificate, stat-
ing the facts of such dismissal, and shkll deliver such certificate
to the party against whom the complaibt was preferred.
THE PERSON
bound to keep the peace, and be
period not exceeding six months fiom
sentence.
42. If any person against whom such complaint as is men- certificate
tioned in either section 39,40 or 41 shkll have been preferred by :ozt-
or on behalf of the party aggrieved Lhall have obtained such abarto
further certificate, or, having been convicted, shall have paid the whole p,-dj,,
amount adjudged to be paid, or shall have suffered the imprison-
ment, or imprisonment with hard labob awarded; in every such
case, he shall be released from all further or other proceedings,
civil or criminal, for the same cause:
of good behavior for a
the expiration of such
Provided, that in case the court shal 1 find the assault or battery
complained of to have been acco+panied by any attempt
to commit felony, or shall be of opinlon that the same is from
any other circumstance, a fit subject fir a prosecution by indict-
ment, they shall abstain from any adjudication thereupon, and
0 shall deal with the case in all respects in the same manner as if
they had no authority finally to hear d d determine the same:
I
Provided also that nothing contained shall
authorize any Justices to hear and detennine any case of
assault or battery in which any q I ;estion shall arise as to
lThe inclusion of this page is ruthorirk by L.S. 123ROlll
1
20 OFFENCES AGAdNST TP.IE PERSON
the title to any land, tenements, or hereditaments, or any interest
therein, or accruing therefrom, or as to any bankruptcy or
any execution under the process of any court of justice.
Punishment 43. Whosoever shall be convicted upon an indictment of any
for common
and a d - assault occasioning actual bodily ham shall be liable to be im-
vated assaults. prisoned for a term not exceeding three years, with or without
42/'969 3rd S C ~ . hard labour; and whosoever shall be convicted upon an indict-
ment for a common assault shall be liable, to be imprisoned for
a term not exceeding one year, with or without hard labour.
44. [Repealed by Act 12 of2009.1
45. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
46. [Repealed by Act 12 of2009.1
49. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
48. [Repealed by Act 12 of2009.1
49. [Repealed by Act 12 of2009.1
51. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
52. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
53. [Repealed by Act 12 of2009.1
54. [Repealed by Act 12 of2009.1
55. [Repealed by Act 12 of2009.1
1
56. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
57. [Repealed by Act 12 of2009.1 A
58. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
59. [Repealed by Act 12 of2009.1
60. [Repealed by Act 12 of2009.1
61. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
(The inclusion of this paEc is suthorizd by L.N. 123nOll) \ ,,
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
62. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
63. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
64. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
65. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
66. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009. ]
67. [Repealed by Act 12 of 2009.1
Suppression of Brothels
68.41) If it is made to appear to a Justice by information on Search
oath that there is reason to suspect that any premises or part warrants.
thereof is used as a brothel or for the purposes of habitual
prostitution, the Justice may issue a warrant authorizing any
constable to enter and search the premises, at any time of the
day or night and with such assistance and by such force as may
be necessary, and to seize any article found therein which there
is reasonable ground for believing will afford evidence as to the
commission of any offence of an obscene or immoral nature and
to arrest any person found therein who there is reasonable cause
to suspect is committing, or has committed, any offence against
this Act.
(2) Every person so arrested shall be detained in custody
until he can be brought before, or shall give bail for his appear-
ance to, the Resident Magistrate of the parish. Every article so
seized shall be produced in evidence at the trial, if any person be
charged in relation thereto, and may be disposed of in such
manner as to the court may seem fit. If there be no such trial
such article may be disposed of in such manner as a Resident
Magistrate may think fit.
Child Stealing
69. Whosoever shall unlawfully, either by force or fraud, lead Child
or take away, or decoy or entice away, or detain any child under Stea'iq,
the age of fourteen years, with intent to deprive any parent,
guardian, or other person having the l a h l care or charge of
lThc inclusion of this pagc is authorized by L.S. 123ROll)
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
421 1969
3rd Sch.
Kidnapping
with certain
intents per-
sons of any
age.
3411973.
sush child, of the possession of such child, or with intent to steal
any article upon or about the person of such child to whom-
soever such article may belong; and whosoever shall, with any
such intent, receive or harbour any such child, knowing the
same to have been by force or fraud led, taken, decoyed, enticed
away, or detained as in this section before-mentioned, shall be
guilty of felony, and, being convicted thereof, shall be liable to
be imprisoned for a tern not exceeding seven years, with or
without hard labour:
Provided, that no person who shall have claimed any right to
the possession of such child, or shall be the mother, or shall
have claimed to be the father of an illegitimate child, shall be
liable to be prosecuted by virtue hereof on account of the getting
possession of such child out of the possession of any person
having the lawful charge thereof.
Kidnapping
70.--( 1) Whosoever shall kidnap a person with intent-
(a) to hold him against his will for ransom, whether by
way of money or valuables or any promise to do or
refrain from doing anything or any other consideration;
or
(6) to cause him to be unlawfully sent or transported out of
Jamaica against his will; or
(c) to hold him for service against his will,
shall be guilty of a felony and, being convicted thereof, shall
be liable to imprisonment for life with or without hard labour.
(2) Whosoever conspires to commit an offence against
subsection (1) or solicits, encourages, persuades or endeavours
to persuade any person to commit such an offence shall be
guilty of a 'misdemeanour and, being convicted thereof, shall be
liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding ten years with
or without hard labour.
(3) In proceedings .under this section where the person
in relation to whom the offence is alleged to have been com-
mitted is a child under the age of fourteen years any action shall
lThc inclusioa of tbb page is aothoriscd by LN. l23ROlll
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
be deemed to be against his will if it is against the hill of his
parent or guardian, or other person having the lawful care or
charge of such child.
(4) For the purposes of this section a person "kidnaps"
when he unlawfully, either by force or fraud, leads or takes
away, decoys or entices away, or detains or secretes any other
person, so, however, that the fact that a person in relation to
whom the offence is alleged to have been committed did not
resist is not a defence unless the accused proves that the failure
to resist was not caused by fraud or by threats, duress, force or
exhibition of force.
Bigamy
71.-41) Whosoever, being married, shall marry any other Bigamy.
person during the life of the former husband or wife, whether
the second marriage shall have taken place in this Island or
elsewhere, shall be guilty of felony, and, king convicted 42;1%9
3rd Sch. thereof, shall be liable to be imprisoned for a tern not exceeding
four years, with or without hard labour; and my such offence
may be dealt with, inquired of, tried, determined and punished
in any parish of this Island where the offender shall be appre-
hended, or be in custody, in the same manner in all respects as if
the offence had been actually committed in that parish:
Provided, that nothinb in this section contained shall extend
to any second marriage contracted elsewhere than in Jamaica by
any Commonwealth citizen, or to any person marrying a second
time whose husband or wife shall have been continually absent
fiom such person for the space of seven years then last past, and
shall not have been known by such person to be living within
that time, or shall extend to any person who, at the time of such
second marriage, shdl have been divorced fiom the bond of
the first marriage, or to any person whose former marriage shdl
have been declared void by the sentence of any court of compe-
tent jurisdiction.
(2) The wife or husband of a person charged with Rovisionas
bigamy may be called as a witness either for the prosecution or to evidence.
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERTON
Administer-
ing drugs or
using instru-
ments to
procure
abortion.
421 1369
3rd Sch.
Procuring
drugs, etc..
to procure
abortion.
4211969 :
3rd Sch.
Concealment
of birth.
defence and without the consent of the person charged.
Attempts to Procure Abortion
72. Every woman, being with child, who with intent to
procure her own miscarriage, shall unlawfblly administer to her-
self any poison or other noxious thing, or shall unlawfully
use any instrument or other means whatsoever with the like in-
tent; and whosoever, with intent to procure the miscarriage of
any woman, whether she be or be not with child, shall unlaw-
fully administer to her, or cause to be taken by her, any poison
or other noxious thing, or shall unlawfblly use any instrument or
other means whatsoever with the like intent, shall be guilty of
felony, and, being convicted thereofl, shall be liable to be im-
prisoned for life, with or without hard labour.
73. Whosoever shall un l ah l ly supply or procure any poison
or other noxious thing, or any instrument or thing whatsoever,
'
knowing that the same is intended to be un lah l ly used or em-
ployed with intent to procure the miscarriage of any woman,
whether she be or be not with child, shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanour, and, being convicted thereof, shall be liable to be
imprisoned for a term not exceeding thee years, with or with-
out hard labour.
Conbealing the Birth of a Child
74. If any woman shall be delivered of a child, every person
who shall by any secret disposition of the dead body of the said
child, whether such child died before, at, or afier the birth,
endeavour to conceal the birth thereof, shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanour, and being convicted thereof, shall be liable to be
imprisoned for a term not exceeding two years, with or with
hard labour:
Provided, that if any person t ied for the murder of any child
shall be acquitted thereof, it shall be l a h l for the jury by
whose verdict such person shall be acquitted to find, in case it
shall so appear in evidence, that the child had recently been
born, and that such person did, by some secret disposition of the
JThe inclusion of tbii page k aa(ho&ed by LN. l23ROlll
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
... a
dead body of such child, endeavour to conceal the birth thereof,
and thereupon the court may pass such sentence as if such per-
son had been convicted upon an indictment for the concealment
of the birth.
Infanticide
75.-41) Where a woman by any wilful act or omission offenceof
8 . causes the death of her child being a child under the age of infmticids~ twelve months, but at the time of the act or omission the balance
of her mind was disturbed by reason of her not having fully
recovered fiom the effect of giving birth to the child or by
reason of the effect of lactation consequent upon the birth of the
child, then, notwithstanding that the circumstances were such
that but for this Act the offence would have amounted to
murder, she shall be guilty of felony, to wit, of infanticide, and
may for such offence be dealt with and punished as if she had
been guilty of the offence of inanslaughter of the child.
(2) Where upon the trial of a woman for the murder
of her child, being a child under the age of twelve months, the
jury are of opinion that she by any wilful act or omission caused
its death, but that at the time of the act or omission the balance
of her mind was disturbed by reason of her not having fully
recovered from the effect of giving birth to the child or by
reason of the effect of lactation consequent upon the birth of the
child, then the jury may, notwithstanding that the circumstances
were such that but for the provisions of this Act they might
have returned a verdict of murder, return in lieu thereof a verdict
of infanticide.
(3) Nothing in this section shall affect the power of
thejury upon an indictment for the murder of a newly-
born child to return a verdict of manslaughter, or a verdict
of guilty but insane, or a verdict of concealment of birth,
in pursuance of section 74.
(4) The said section 74 shall apply in the case of the
acquittal of a woman upon indictment for infanticide as it
applies upon the acquittal of a woman for murder, and upon
the trial of any person over the age of sixteen for infanticide
it shall be l a m 1 for the jury, if they are satisfied that the
lThe inclusion of this page is authorized by L.S. lUlZOlll
Unnatural
crimc. :
4211969
3rd Sch.
Anempl.
421 1969
3rd Sch.
Proof of carnal
knowledge.
Oulrages on
decency.
Apprehension
tvithout war-
rant. t
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
accused is guilty of an offence under section 9 of the Child Care
and Protection Act, to find the a c c d guilty of such an of-
fence, md in that case that section shall apply accordingly.
Unn~dural Ofinces
76. Whosoever shall be convicted of the abominable
crime of buggery, committed either with' mankind or with
any animal, shall be liable to be imprisoned &Kept to
hard labour for a term not exceeding ten years.
77. Whosoever shall attempt to commit the said abominable
crime, or shall be guilty of my assault with intent to commit the
same, or of any indecent assault upon any male person, shall be
guilty of a misdemmour, and being convicted thereof, shall be
liable to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding seven years,
with or without hard labour.
Proof of Carnal Knowledge
78. Whenever upon the trial of any offence punishable under
this Act, it may be necessary to prove carnal knowledge, it shall
not be necessary to prove the actual emission of seed in order to
constitute a carnal knowledge, but the carnal knowledge shall be
deemed complete upon proof of penetration only.
Qlulrages on Decency
79. Any male person who, in pub!ic or private, commits, or is
a party to the commission of, or procures or attempts to procure
the commission by any male person of, any act of gross inde-
cency with another male person, shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanour, and being convicted thereof shall be liable at the
discretion of the court to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding
two years, with or without hard labour.
Olher Marrers
$0. Any constable may take into custody, without a warrant,
any person whom he shall find lying or loitering in any
highway, yard, or other place during the night, that is to say the
interval between 7 o'clock in the evening and 6 o'clock in the
morning of the next succeeding day, and whom he shall have
good cause to suspect of having committed, or being about to
l'l'hc inclusion of this page is authorized h!. I..%. 12312011(
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
commit any felony in this Act mentioned, and sMl take such
p m n , as soon as reasonably may be, before a Justice, to be
deda with according to law.
$1. In the case of every felony punishable under this Act m-t
of phcipals every principal in the second degree, and every accessory before h,,
the fact, shall be punishable in the same manner as the principal & m e
in the first degree is by this Act punishable; and every accesmry -.
after the fact to any felony punishable under this Act (except
murder) shall be liable to be imprisoned for a tern not exceed-
ing two years, with or without had labour; and every accessory
after the fact to murder shall be liable to be imprisoned for life, 4 2 ~ ~
with or without had labour, and whosoever shdl counsel, aid, 3rd M.
or abet the commission of any indictable mideme8wour puni-
shable under this Act shall be liable to be proceeded against.
indicted, and punished as a principal offender.
$2. menever any person shall be convicted of my indictable Fines rsnrQ
midemeanour punishable under this Act, the coua may, if it 'JkPP
shall think fit, in addition to or in lieu of my punishment by b.
this Act authorized, fine the offender, and require him to enter
into his own recognizances, and to find sureties* both or either
for keeping the peace and being of g o d behaviour: and, in case?
of any felony punishable under this Act otherwise ahm with
death, the cowt may, if it shall think fit, qu i r e the oflender
to enter into his own recognimces, and to find sureties both
or either for keeping the peace, in addition to my punishment
by this Act authorized:
Provided, that no person shall be imprisaned for not finding
sureties under this section for any period exceeding one
year.
$3. No summary conviction under this Act shall be quashed Conviaion
not to be for want of form, or be moved by certiorari into the Supreme ,M,
Court; and no warrant of commitment shall be held void by wantof
reason of any defect therein, provided it be therein alleged that
the party has been convicted, and there be a g d and valid
conviction to sustain the same.
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON
costs on 84. Where any person shall be convicted on any indictment
prosecution
for assault. of any assault, whether with or without battery and wounding, or
either of them, such person may, if the court thinks fit, in addi-
tion to any sentence which the court may deem proper for the
, offence. be adjudged to pay to the prosecutor his actual and
necessary costs and expenses of the prosecution, and such
moderate allowance for the loss of time as the court shall, by
afidavit or other inquiry and examination, ascertain to be rea-
sonable; and, unless the sum so awarded shall be sooner paid,
the offender shall be imprisoned for any term the court shall
award not exceeding thee months, in addition to the term of im-
pmsoment (if any) to which the offender may be sentenced for
the offence.
Recovery 85. The court may, by warrant under hand and seal, order
distress. OfCmU by such sum as shall be so awarded to be levied by distress and sale
of the goods and chattels of the offender, and paid to the
prosecutor, and that the surplus, if any, arising fiom such sale
shall be paid to the owner; and, in case the sum shall be so
levied, the imprisonment awarded until payment of such sum
shall thereupon cease.
I'lbc iadPdon of tbb page b rutharked by LN. IZYLOIIJ
