huhne perverting misprision embracery pervert wilfully chancer indictable indemnifying inchoate personation rawnsley juror nightwalker hardcopy misfeasance surety excusat hoggart occasioning ignorantia crim perjury pryce effecting triable affray buggery archbold obstructing
what can you get for perverting the course of justice
Perverting the course of justice - wikipedia Perverting the course of justice Jump to : navigation , search Perverting the course of justice is an offence committed when a person prevents justice from being served on him / herself or on another party . In England and Wales it is a common law offence , carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment . Statutory versions of the offence exist in Australia , Canada , Hong Kong , Ireland , and New Zealand . Contents ( hide ) 1 England and Wales 2 Canada 3 Australia 4 Notable convictions 5 See also 6 References England and Wales ( edit ) Doing an act tending and intending to pervert the course of public justice is an offence under the common law of England and Wales . Perverting the course of justice can be any of three acts : Fabricating or disposing of evidence Intimidating or threatening a witness or juror Intimidating or threatening a judge Also criminal are : conspiring with another to pervert the course of justice , and intending to pervert the course of justice This offence , and the subject matter of the related forms of criminal conspiracy , have been referred to as : Perverting the course of justice Interfering with the administration of justice Obstructing the administration of justice Obstructing the course of justice Defeating the due course of justice Defeating the ends of justice Effecting a public mischief This proliferation of alternative names is `` somewhat confusing '' . This offence is also sometimes referred to as `` attempting to pervert the course of justice '' . This is potentially misleading . An attempt to pervert the course of justice is a substantive common law offence and not an inchoate offence . It is not a form of the offence of attempt , and it would be erroneous to charge it as being contrary to section 1 ( 1 ) of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 . This offence is triable only on indictment . Canada ( edit ) In Canada , the equivalent offence is referred to as `` obstructing justice '' . It is set out s 139 of the Criminal Code : 139 . ( 1 ) Every one who wilfully attempts in any manner to obstruct , pervert or defeat the course of justice in a judicial proceeding , ( a ) by indemnifying or agreeing to indemnify a surety , in any way and either in whole or in part , or ( b ) where he is a surety , by accepting or agreeing to accept a fee or any form of indemnity whether in whole or in part from or in respect of a person who is released or is to be released from custody , is guilty of ( c ) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years , or ( d ) an offence punishable on summary conviction . ( 2 ) Every one who wilfully attempts in any manner other than a manner described in subsection ( 1 ) to obstruct , pervert or defeat the course of justice is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years . ( 3 ) Without restricting the generality of subsection ( 2 ) , every one shall be deemed wilfully to attempt to obstruct , pervert or defeat the course of justice who in a judicial proceeding , existing or proposed , ( a ) dissuades or attempts to dissuade a person by threats , bribes or other corrupt means from giving evidence ; ( b ) influences or attempts to influence by threats , bribes or other corrupt means a person in his conduct as a juror ; or ( c ) accepts or obtains , agrees to accept or attempts to obtain a bribe or other corrupt consideration to abstain from giving evidence , or to do or to refrain from doing anything as a juror . Australia ( edit ) In New South Wales , the equivalent offence is set out in Section 319 of the Crimes Act 1900 ( NSW ) . The maximum penalty is 14 years ' imprisonment . Notable convictions ( edit ) Jonathan Aitken , a politician and British government cabinet minister -- perjury and perverting the course of justice Jeffrey Archer , an English author and former politician -- perjury and perverting the course of justice Ali Dizaei , a former commander in London 's Metropolitan Police Service -- initially found guilty of perverting the course of justice and gaoled ; later released on appeal ; subsequently re-convicted Chris Huhne , a journalist and former British government cabinet minister and his former wife , Vicky Pryce -- perverting the course of justice ( see R v Huhne and Pryce ) John Humble , a former labourer -- perverting the course of justice Bruce Hyman , an English barrister -- perverting the course of justice Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan -- found guilty of kidnapping , false imprisonment , and perverting the course of justice Australia Marcus Einfeld , an Australian retired Federal Court and NSW , WA and ACT Supreme Court judge -- perjury and perverting the course of justice , for lying relative to a speeding ticket Lionel Murphy , an Australian former politician and High Court of Australia judge -- initially found guilty of perverting the course of justice ; the NSW Appeal Court subsequently quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial ; subsequently found not guilty See also ( edit ) Law portal Compounding a felony Compounding treason Contempt of Court Embracery Misprision of felony Misprision of treason Obstruction of justice , a similar concept in American law Perjury References ( edit ) Jump up ^ This name is used in the statement of offence in the form of indictment approved in R v Williams ( KJ ) 92 Cr App R 158 , ( 1991 ) Crim LR 205 , CA Jump up ^ The Law Commission . Criminal Law : Offences relating to the Administration of Justice . Working Paper No 62 . HMSO. 1975 . Paragraph 10 at page 6 . Jump up ^ Archbold Criminal Pleading , Evidence and Practice. 1999 . Paragraph 28 - 23 at page 2261 . Jump up ^ R v Williams ( KJ ) 92 Cr App R 158 , ( 1991 ) Crim LR 205 , CA Jump up ^ `` Perverting the Course of Justice . Sentencing Manual . Crown Prosecution Service . Jump up ^ Criminal Code RSC 1985 , c C - 46 , s 139 Jump up ^ Crimes Act 1900 ( NSW ) s 319 General offence of perverting the course of justice . Jump up ^ `` Aitken jailed for 18 months '' . The Guardian . London . 8 June 1999 . Retrieved 26 March 2010 . Jump up ^ White , Michael ( 20 July 2001 ) . `` Political chancer with lots of fizz '' . The Guardian . Jump up ^ Rawnsley , Andrew ( 22 July 2001 ) . `` Shepherd 's pie and shampagne , anyone ? '' . The Observer . Jump up ^ Hoggart , Simon ( 28 July 2001 ) . `` Drink the Krug ( but avoid the shepherd 's pie ) '' . The Guardian . Jump up ^ `` Ali Dizaei : Met Police commander jailed for corruption '' . BBC News . 13 February 2012 . Jump up ^ Davies , Caroline ; Addley , Esther ( 4 February 2013 ) . `` Chris Huhne facing jail sentence after admitting perverting course of justice '' . The Guardian . Retrieved 20 February 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Vicky Pryce guilty over Chris Huhne speeding points '' . BBC News . 7 March 2013 . Retrieved 7 March 2013 . Jump up ^ `` Man admits ' Ripper ' hoax charges '' . BBC News . 20 March 2006 . Retrieved 22 November 2006 . Jump up ^ `` Account of Hyman _́ s conviction '' . BBC News . 6 August 2007 . Jump up ^ `` Shannon Matthews ' mother guilty of kidnapping own daughter '' . The Guardian . 4 December 2008 . Retrieved 15 August 2012 . Jump up ^ R v Einfeld ( 2009 ) NSWSC 119 , Supreme Court ( NSW , Australia ) . Jump up ^ Galligan , Brian ( 2012 ) . `` Murphy , Lionel Keith ( 1922 -- 1986 ) '' ( hardcopy ) . Australian Dictionary of Biography . National Centre of Biography , Australian National University . Perjury and Perversion of the Course of Justice Considered ( PDF ) , a primer on the legal details of the offence <Th_colspan="2"> ( hide ) English criminal law Classes of crimes Common law Indictable Either way Summary Regulatory Lesser included Elements of crimes Actus reus Causation Mens rea Intention ( criminal law ) Intention in English law Recklessness Criminal negligence Corporate / Vicarious / Strict liability Omissions Concurrence Ignorantia juris non excusat Inchoate offences Encouraging or assisting a crime Conspiracy Accessory Attempt Common purpose Defences Self - defence Duress Necessity Marital coercion Consent Medical procedure Prevention of crime Participation in a sporting event Lawful excuse Insanity Diminished responsibility Intoxication Category : Criminal defences Offences against the person Homicide ( Murder / Manslaughter / Corporate manslaughter / Infanticide ) Manslaughter in English law Unlawful killing Mayhem Concealing birth Child destruction Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm Assault occasioning actual bodily harm Common assault Attempting to choke , &c. in order to commit any indictable offence Assault with intent to rob Robbery Assault with intent to rape Assault with intent to commit felony , or on peace officers Assault with intent to resist lawful apprehension Buggery Battery Kidnapping Child abduction False imprisonment Harassment Offences Against the Person Act 1861 Sexual offences Rape Sexual assault Sexual Offences Act 2003 Public order offences Riot Violent disorder Affray Unlawful assembly Fear or provocation of violence Intentional harassment , alarm or distress Harassment , alarm or distress Public Order Act 1986 Incitement to ethnic or racial hatred Challenging to a fight Nuisance Causing Public nuisance Outraging public decency Effecting a public mischief Keeping a disorderly house Preventing the lawful burial of a body Breach of the peace Treason High treason Common scold Nightwalker statute Rout Forcible entry Accessory ( legal term ) Misconduct in a public office Misfeasance in public office Abuse of authority Perjury of oath Dereliction of duty Offences against property Arson Dishonesty Cheating ( law ) Burglary Robbery Theft Larceny Criminal damage Squatting Trespass Taking without owner 's consent Deception Handling stolen goods Misappropriation of funds Blackmail Extortion Cybercrime Theft Act 1968 Theft Act 1978 Fraud Act 2006 Fraud by abuse of position Conspiracy to defraud Fare evasion Webcam blackmail Forgery , personation and cheating Forgery Cheating the public revenue Uttering Offences against justice Bribery Perjury Offences Akin to Perjury Perverting the course of justice Misrepresentation as to identity Embracery Witness intimidation Witness tampering Harming People who have Assisted the Police / Given Evidence / Been a Juror Misprision of treason Misprision of felony Compounding a felony Jury tampering Assault with intent to resist lawful apprehension Assisting an offender Harboring a fugitive Encouraging or assisting a crime Escape from lawful custody Obstruction of justice Obstruction of a police officer Wasting police time Refusing to assist a constable Sedition Espionage Contempt of the sovereign Contempt of court Fabrication of false evidence Breach of prison / breaking prison Rescuing a prisoner Other common law areas Contract Tort Property Wills Trusts and estates Evidence Criminal procedure <Td_colspan="2"> History Law of England and Wales portal Criminal Justice portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Perverting_the_course_of_justice&oldid=832186235 '' Categories : Perverting the course of justice Abuse of the legal system Crimes Deception English criminal law Common law offences in England and Wales Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Català Deutsch Español Euskara Français தமிழ் 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 24 March 2018 , at 10 : 54 . Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply . By using this site , you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation , Inc. , a non-profit organization . About Wikipedia