Grand Jury Abolition Provided For In Bill (Press, 20 July 1960)

On 19 July 1960, the New Zealand Press Association reported a significant development in the country's legal framework, as grand juries are set to be abolished following revisions to the Crimes Bill. This change comes after the bill was first introduced to Parliament in 1957 and underwent a significant rewrite before its reintroduction in 1959. The latest draft, presented to the House of Representatives, deletes all references to grand jury procedures, marking a major shift in the legislative approach. If the bill is passed in the current parliamentary session, it will take effect on 1 January 1961. Among its key provisions, the bill abolishes the death penalty for murder and piracy, retaining it only for treason. Notably, it addresses controversial issues regarding homosexual offences, which sparked debate the previous year. The bill now raises the age threshold for child convictions from seven to ten years, allowing for potential convictions of minors aged 10 to 14, provided they knew their actions were wrong or illegal. Further adjustments involve the legal stance on trespassers, emphasizing that individuals cannot inflict bodily harm but may use reasonable force to prevent trespassing. Changes to indecency laws include an increase in penalties for indecent acts between males, with maximum imprisonment now reaching five years, while sodomy can incur up to 14 years for certain cases. The bill also modifies the definition of infanticide, now applicable to the killing of children under ten, and consolidates the crime of abduction under general abduction laws, removing separate provisions for minors. Additionally, the wording for criminal libel has been refined to broaden its scope and applicability. Notably, the bill consolidates burglary laws, treating breaking and entering—regardless of time—as burglary. The provisions regarding possession of stolen goods have also been amended to streamline the criteria for guilt. The move to abolish grand juries is reflected in the reformulated processes for presenting indictments, allowing the Supreme Court to discharge defendants during trials with the effect of an acquittal. A new clause permits the prerogative of mercy to be exercised regardless of whether a conviction has been appealed. Overall, the revised Crimes Bill represents a comprehensive overhaul of various aspects of criminal law in New Zealand, aiming to clarify legal intentions and modernise the legal system amidst changing societal values.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand