The Weekly Law Reports
[2011] 2 WLR 197
Court of Appeal
Regina
v
Ahmed
[2010] EWCA Crim 1949
2010 July 29
Hughes LJ, Rafferty, Maddison JJ
Crime— Abortion— Procuring “thing” with intent to procure miscarriage— Defendant attempting to deceive medical staff into carrying out abortion on his wife— Wife speaking no English and unaware that abortion to be performed— Defendant convicted of procuring miscarriage— Whether offence known to law— Whether surgical procedure of abortion “thing”— Whether “procuring” of thing including bringing about of taking possession of thing by other person— Whether defendant’s deception necessarily preventing doctors forming relevant opinion in good faith— Whether offence of procuring thing with intent to procure miscarriage made out—
Offences against the Person Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict c 100), s 59
[1]
—
Abortion Act 1967 (c 87), s 1(1)(4) (as amended by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (c 37), s 37(1))
[2]