The court considered a situation where one admission was made at 10.00 pm one night under a threat or inducement, and a second statement was made the next morning before a different investigator and after the usual caution was given. The issue was whether the second statement was still under the influence of the threat or inducement of the first.
Held: Even the most gentle threats or slight inducements will taint a confession, thoughh ‘The court thinks that the principle to be deduced from the cases is really this: that if the threat or promise under which the first statement was made still persists when the second statement is made, then it is inadmissible. Only if the time-limit between the two statements, the circumstances existing at the time and the caution are such that it can be said that the original threat or inducement has been dissipated can the second statement be admitted as a voluntary statement.
This court, however, is of the clear opinion that the second statement was admissible. No doubt, the opening reference to what it was said he had said to the regimental sergeant-major put the appellant in a difficulty. No doubt it was introduced by Sergeant Ellis in the hope that thereby he might get a continued confession; but it is quite clear that the effect of any original inducement or threat under which the first statement was made had been dissipated. Quite apart from the fact that the caution was given and given twice, some nine hours had elapsed and the whole circumstances had changed. The parade had ended. The rest of the company had gone to bed. The effect of the threat or the inducement was spent. On those grounds this court has come to the conclusion that the oral and written statements made to Sergeant Ellis were clearly admissible.’
The test for causation of a death at common law is that it is a ‘substantial or significant cause’
Judges:
Lord Parker CJ
Citations:
(1959) 43 Cr App R 121, [1959] 2 WLR 623, [1959] 2 QB 35, [1959] 2 All ER 193
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Criminal Evidence, Police, Crime
Updated: 04 May 2022; Ref: scu.553626