Perverting the course of justice facts for kids

Stopping Justice Unfairly is a serious crime where someone tries to prevent the legal system from working properly. This can happen when they try to stop justice for themselves or for someone else.

In places like England and Wales, this is a very serious crime. It can lead to a long time in prison. Other countries, like Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand, have similar laws. In Scotland, it's called "defeating the ends of justice." In South Africa, it's "defeating or obstructing the course of justice." The United States has a similar idea called "obstruction of justice."

What is Stopping Justice Unfairly?

This crime means doing something to mess up a legal case or investigation. It's about trying to stop the truth from coming out or preventing a fair decision.

How People Stop Justice Unfairly

People can commit this crime in different ways:

• Making up or Hiding Evidence: This means creating fake evidence or getting rid of real evidence. For example, planting a fake clue or destroying a document that proves something.
• Threatening Witnesses or Jurors: A witness is someone who saw something important. A juror is a person on a jury who helps decide a case. Threatening them means trying to scare them so they don't tell the truth or make a fair decision.
• Threatening a Judge: A judge is the person in charge of a court case. Threatening a judge means trying to scare them into making a certain decision.

It's also a crime to:

• Plan with Others: If people work together to try and stop justice unfairly, that's also against the law. This is called "conspiracy."
• Intend to Stop Justice: Even if someone doesn't succeed, just trying to stop justice unfairly is a crime.

This crime has many names, which can be a bit confusing. Some other names for it include "interfering with justice" or "obstructing justice."

Stopping Justice Unfairly in Canada

In Canada, this crime is called "obstructing justice." It's described in their law book, the Criminal Code.

The law says that anyone who tries to stop or mess up the course of justice is guilty of a serious crime. This can include:

• Trying to stop someone from giving evidence by using threats or bribes.
• Trying to influence a juror by using threats or bribes.
• Taking a bribe to not give evidence or to do something specific as a juror.

People found guilty of this crime in Canada can face many years in prison.

Stopping Justice Unfairly in Australia

In New South Wales, Australia, the law for this crime is in their Crimes Act. The maximum punishment can be 14 years in prison.

There have been some well-known cases in Australia:

• In 1985, Murray Farquhar, a former top magistrate (a type of judge), was found guilty of trying to stop justice unfairly. He tried to get charges dropped against someone. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
• In 2009, Marcus Einfeld, a former judge, was sentenced to three years in prison. He admitted to lying to try and stop justice unfairly.

Notable Cases of Stopping Justice Unfairly

Many public figures have been found guilty of this crime:

• Jonathan Aitken, a politician and government minister in Britain, was found guilty of lying under oath and stopping justice unfairly.
• Jeffrey Archer, a famous English author and former politician, was also found guilty of lying under oath and stopping justice unfairly.
• Ali Dizaei, a police commander in London, was found guilty of stopping justice unfairly. He was later re-convicted after an appeal.
• Chris Huhne, a journalist and former British government minister, and his former wife, Vicky Pryce, were both found guilty of stopping justice unfairly.
• John Humble, a labourer, was found guilty of stopping justice unfairly.
• Bruce Hyman, an English lawyer, was found guilty of stopping justice unfairly.
• Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan were found guilty of kidnapping, holding someone against their will, and stopping justice unfairly.

Australia

• Marcus Einfeld, a retired Australian judge, was found guilty of lying under oath and stopping justice unfairly. This was related to a speeding ticket.
• Lionel Murphy, a former Australian politician and judge, was initially found guilty of stopping justice unfairly. However, his conviction was later overturned, and he was found not guilty in a new trial.

See also

In Spanish: Prevaricación para niños

• Compounding a felony
• Compounding treason
• Contempt of court
• Embracery
• Misprision of felony
• Misprision of treason
• United Nations Convention against Corruption