Back

The Queen v. Dudley and Stephens (The Lifeboat Case) 14 Q.B.D. 273

Her Majesty The Queen vs. Tom Dudley and Edwin Stephens

14 Queens Bench Division 273 DC |

Criminal Law–Murder–Killing and eating Flesh of Human Body under Pressure of Hunger–”Necessity”–Special Verdict–Certiorari–Offence on High Seas–Jurisdiction of High Court.

A man who, in order to escape death from hunger, kills another for the purpose of eating his flesh, is guilty of murder; although at the time of the act he is in such circumstances that he believes and has reasonable ground for believing that it affords the only chance of preserving his life.

At the trial of an indictment for murder it appeared, upon a special verdict, that the prisoners D. and S., seamen, and the deceased, a boy between seventeen and eighteen, were cast...