The Law Reports (Queen's Bench Division)
[1985] QB 771
[COURT OF APPEAL]
REGINA v. SPENCER AND OTHERS
REGINA v. SMAILS AND OTHERS
1984 Oct. 4,
5;
Nov. 2
Nov. 2
May L.J., Drake and Anthony Lincoln JJ.
Crime
— Evidence
— Corroboration
— Patients detained in secure hospital
— Complaints against nurses of ill-treatment
— Warning of danger of convicting on patients' uncorroborated evidence
— Whether essential
Crime
— Jury
— Irregularity
— Biased juror discharged from jury
— Members of jury directed not to discuss case with discharged juror
— Three members disregarding direction
— Whether irregularity affecting trial
Judicial Precedent
— Court of Appeal decision
— Criminal jurisdiction
— Doctrine of stare decisis
— Application of doctrine to Criminal Division
— Whether Criminal Division bound to follow earlier decision