INDICTABLE OFFENCE Meaning and
Definition
-
An indictable offence refers to a serious criminal offense that warrants a full trial in a higher court. The term is primarily used in common law jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. An indictable offence is distinguished from a summary offence, which is considered to be less severe and is typically tried in a lower court.
An indictable offence is characterized by its nature and potential punishment. It usually involves serious crimes such as murder, rape, burglary, drug trafficking, fraud, or treason. The gravity of these offenses necessitates a more rigorous legal process, including more extensive investigation, cross-examinations, and presentation of evidence.
In order to proceed with an indictable offense, a formal indictment, i.e., a written accusation, is presented to a grand jury or a judge. The indictment outlines the charges against the accused, detailing the alleged criminal acts and providing sufficient evidence to support the charges. Following the indictment, the accused is entitled to a fair trial before a judge or a jury, where they have the opportunity to offer a defense and present evidence in their favor.
If convicted of an indictable offense, the accused faces significant penalties, including imprisonment, fines, community service, and other forms of punishment. The severity of the punishment varies depending on the specific offense and the jurisdiction in which it was committed.
Common Misspellings for INDICTABLE OFFENCE
- undictable offence
- jndictable offence
- kndictable offence
- ondictable offence
- 9ndictable offence
- 8ndictable offence
- ibdictable offence
- imdictable offence
- ijdictable offence
- ihdictable offence
- insictable offence
- inxictable offence
- incictable offence
- infictable offence
- inrictable offence
- ineictable offence
- inductable offence
- indjctable offence
- indkctable offence
- indoctable offence
Etymology of INDICTABLE OFFENCE
The word "indictable" is derived from the verb "indict", which comes from the Latin word "indictare". In Latin, "indictare" means "to declare or to proclaim". "Indict" evolved into Old French as "enditer", which means "to accuse or to charge". In English, it eventually became "indict".
The term "indictable offence" is a legal term used in common law systems, including those of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and others. An "indictable offence" refers to a serious criminal offense that is usually more severe and requires a formal accusation or indictment by a grand jury or a judge. The etymology of the phrase, therefore, stems from the verb "indict" and the legal context in which it is used.
