Gukuli v Reginam
Gukuli v Reginam (Criminal Appeal No. 75 of 1955) [1955] EACA 346 (1 January 1955)
The court held that section 61B of the Penal Code creates two distinct offences: administering an oath and being present and consenting to the administration of an oath. Charging both alternatives in a single count is bad for duplicity under section 135(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code, as it fails to specify the precise offence for which the accused is convicted. This is a substantial, not merely formal, defect. The court found that such duplicity necessarily prejudices the accused, as he cannot know with certainty the exact offence of conviction, which impairs his ability to defend himself…
Source excerpt
- Duplicity In Charges
- Criminal Procedure Irregularities
- Failure Of Justice
- Alternative Offences
- Drafting Of Charges