Inferences may be drawn if a suspect is relying on facts given under a written statement to police who remained silent during questioning. The purpose of S34 (1)a was to prevent a suspect from relying on facts in court that should have been disclised during police questioning. If all of the facts that are being relied upon are in the written statement produced by the solicitor, inferences cannot be drawn by the jury.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Under Section 34(1)(a) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, inferences can indeed be drawn if a suspect fails to mention during questioning something they later rely on in court, even if these facts were included in a written statement. The purpose is to encourage suspects to disclose their defense early.

Inferences May Be Drawn If a Suspect Is Relying on Facts