The Weekly Law Reports
[2003] 3 WLR 693
Court of Appeal
Regina
v
Matthews
[2003] EWCA Crim 813
2002 May 15;
2003 March 25
Mantell LJ, Field J and Judge Paget QC
Crime
— Offensive weapon
— Article with blade
— Defendant charged with possession of knife in public place
— Good reason or lawful authority to be proved in order to establish statutory defence
— Whether compatible with presumption of innocence
—
Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c 33), s. 139 (as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 (c 26), s. 3)
—
Human Rights Act 1998 (c 42), Sch. 1, Pt I, art 6(2)