The defendants were charged with criminal damage to genetically modified crops in a field. They sought trial by jury but would only have a right to such a trial if the value damaged exceeded pounds 5,000. The crops would not have been made available on the market for sale, and no value was immediately ascertainable.
Held: The value was not readily ascertainable, and they represented substantial investment. Accordingly the district judge was correct to treat the value as unascertained and therefore the offence was triable either way.
Judges:
Lord Justice Sedley and Mr Justice Gage
Citations:
Gazette 11-Jul-2002, Times 17-Oct-2002
Statutes:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Criminal Practice, Magistrates
Updated: 19 May 2022; Ref: scu.174318
