Preventing Lawful and Decent burial
This is arguably one of the most unusual laws, and something which people have very rarely been convicted of.
This week it was announced that Han Kristian Rausing had been sentenced to 10 months in custody, suspended for two years, for preventing the lawful and decent burial of his wife Eva Rausing. It appears that his wife may have been dead for up to two months, before her body was found by police.
The offence of preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body is not technically a crime, but a common law offence. Whilst a crime is something created and governed by statute, common law is a legal system based on precedent. In essence this means that a defendant accused of a common law offence will appear before a Crown Court, not a Magistrates Court, which has broader sentencing powers.
IF it it found that there is no case for SH to answer, I don't think for one minute the fella will have a normal life. He will be effectively imprisoned for the rest of his life. For him, it's not about getting off, it's about being found innocent. Nothing else, for him, would allow him any sort of a life.
And IMO, I can't see this not ending in a murder conviction. Although there's an outside possibility it may be someone else.
Anyone know when the other test results are due back from the lab, the ones they hope will give a COD?