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Regina V Dudley and Stephens
Regina V Dudley and Stephens
The three men were held in the station until appearance before magistrates on Monday
Arthur Charles QC led for the prosecution and Arthur J. H. Collins QC for the defence,
Dudley and Stephens pleaded not guilty; Charles opened for the prosecution, outlining the legal
arguments and dismissing the defence of necessity. He also dismissed the insanity defence; it
was clear from the depositions and Dudley's prayer that they were aware of the quality of their
actions
Collings gave arguments such as the hard conditions on the ship and because parker the victim
was ill he would without doubt die first , collings gave the arguments of neccessity
And the prosecutor was changed into an attorney general names james
James submitted that there was no common law authority to support the proposition that
necessity was a defence to murder.
The judge observed that such a principle might be the "legal cloak for unbridled passion and
atrocious crime". They were charged with murder