R v Wang

R v Wang (2005) in the criminal law of England and Wales is the binding precedent, from the highest court, that a judge in England or in Wales is not entitled to direct, or instruct, order or require, a jury to return a verdict of guilty.Mr Cheong Wang was a Chinese political asylum-seeker and a Buddhist, of the Shaolin Sect.For all these, he was indicted on two counts, of having an article with a blade or point in a public place, contrary to Section 139(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.Upon the 28 August 2002, Wang was convicted, upon that Circuit Judge's direction of guilt to the Jury, of the two offences, and he was on the 4 October 2002 conditionally discharged, for a period of 12 months.[2] The judgment settled the law in England and Wales by providing a clear authority in this topic of uncertainty.
House of LordsLaws LJCourt of Appeal of England and Wales (Criminal Division)Lord Bingham of CornhillLord SteynLord Rodger of EarlsferryLord Walker of GestingthorpeLord CarswellUnanimous opinion of the whole committee, that is, per curiamJury instructionscriminal lawEngland and WalesprecedentEnglanddirectverdictguiltyChinesepolitical asylum-seekerBuddhistShaolin SectClacton-on-Searailway stationdetainsheathlocal policeGhurkha-stylekukri knifeCriminal Justice Act 1988Crown CourtChelmsfordCircuit Judgeconditionally dischargedJudicial Committee of the House of LordsCriminal Cases Review CommissionWayback Machine