CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS: HIGH COURT

Mr L. P. Rodrigo asked the Minister for Law and National Development (a) how many prosecutions were conducted in the High Court for the period 1st January. 1967, to 30th June, 1968; (b) how many of these prosecutions resulted in convictions; (c) how many of these convictions were the result of the accused pleading guilty (i) on the original charges, and (ii) on reduced charges; (d) how many of those prosecutions had been for offences classified as follows: -

(i) Murder and connected offences;

(ii) Kidnapping;

(iii) Gang Robbery;

(iv) Rape; and

(v) Causing miscarriage and connected offences;

(e) how many of the accused convicted for each of the above classifications of offences (other than rape) were women; and (f) how many of the accused convicted for each of the above classifications of offences were 18 years old and below at the time of the offence.

Mr E. W. Barker: (a) Number of prosecutions conducted 77 in the High Court for the period 1st January, 1967 to 30th June, 1968 (b) Number of prosecutions which 68 resulted in conviction (c) Number of convictions which were the result of the accused pleading guilty (i) on the original charges 24 (ii) on reduced charges 16 (d) Number of prosecutions classified under the following: - (i) Murder and connected 22 offences (ii) kidnapping Nil (iii) gang robbery 13 (iv) rape 12 (v) causing miscarriage Nil and connected offences (e) Number of women convicted under the following classifications: - (i) murder and connected 1 offences (ii) kidnapping Nil (iii) gang robbery Nil (iv) causing miscarriage and Nil connected offences (f) Number of convicted persons of the age of 18 years and below under the following classifications: - (i) murder and connected 1 offences (ii) kidnapping Nil (iii) gang robbery Nil (iv) rape Nil (v) causing miscarriage and Nil connected offences