General Discussion > The Buzz
David Frost joins al-Jazeera TV
GillE:
--- Quote from: "Clive" --- Is it still a hanging offence to be a traitor?
--- End quote ---
No, it is not. The law of treason was enacted in 1351 and since there is no desuetude in English law, it remains active. There are four categories of treasonable offences:
* "when a man doth compass or imagine the death of our lord the King, or of our lady his Queen or of their eldest son and heir";
* "if a man do violate the King?s companion, or the King?s eldest daughter unmarried, or the wife of the King?s eldest son and heir";
* "if a man do levy war against our lord the King in his realm, or be adherent to the King?s enemies in his realm, giving to them aid and comfort in the realm, or elsewhere, and thereof be probably attainted of open deed by the people of their condition"; and
* "if a man slea the chancellor, treasurer, or the King?s justices of the one bench or the other, justices in eyre, or justices of assise, and all other justices assigned to hear and determine, being in their places, doing their offices".
In common law, it is also possible to be convicted of 'misprision of treason' when a person knows that an act of treason is being committed or is about to be committed and fails to report it to proper authority. This crime is regarded as a felony and is punishable by any term of imprisonment, although it is not a capital offence.
The same laws apply to Scotland as apply to England, although the Scots will also convict for treason if the Great Seal of Scotland is counterfeited or if a Lord of Session or Lord of Justiciary is murdered.
The last person to be convicted and hung for treason was William Joyce (Lord Haw-Haw) on 3 January 1946. The last person to be successfully prosecuted for treason was Michael Bettaney, a Russian spy who was sentenced to 23 years in 1984.
The Crime and Disorder Act of 1998 abolished the death penalty for treason but the death penalty remains for those who commit arson in the Queen's shipyards and for violent pirates.
Gill
PS David Frost following in the footsteps of William Joyce? How are the mighty fallen!
Sandra:
--- Quote from: "GillD" ---
* "if a man do violate the King?s companion, or the King?s eldest daughter unmarried, or the wife of the King?s eldest son and heir";
--- End quote ---
Looks like Dodi was going to be in big trouble then, conspiracy theories or not :wink:
GillE:
:lol:
But Diana and Charles weren't married at the time... were they ;) :) ?
James Hewitt not only committed treason - he confessed to it!
Gill
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