Clause 32 - Alternative verdict on unsuccessful culpable homicide prosecution
Road Safety Bill [Lords]
Public Bill Committees, 28 March 2006, 6:00 pm
Stephen Ladyman (Minister of State, Department for Transport; South Thanet, Labour)
Not being a lawyer, I may fall into dangerous territory. If I mislead the Committee I will, of course, write and correct it. I understand that if one is charged with an offence such as manslaughter, the alternative offences are offered by the judge to the jury if he believes that they cannot reach a decision on the substantive indictment. That will mean that dangerous driving can be an alternative verdict in a case where manslaughter is alleged. We have already made it clear that causing death by careless driving would be an alternative verdict when someone was charged with causing death by dangerous driving. I hope that answers the hon. Gentleman’s question.