Libel Act 1792
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1792 c. 60 |
| Year | 1792 |
(32 Geo. 3) C A P. LX.
'WHEREAS Doubts have arisen whether on the Trial of an Indictment or Information for the making or publishing any Libel, where an Issue or Issues are joined between the King and the Defendant or Defendants, on the Plea of Not Guilty pleaded, it be competent to the Jury impanelled to try the same to give their Verdict upon the whole Matter in Issue:' Be it therefore declared and enacted by the King'smost Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That, on every such Trial, the Jury sworn to try the Issue may give a general Verdict of Guilty or Not Guilty upon the whole Matter put in Issue upon such Indictment or Information; and shall not be required or directed, by the Court or Judge before whom such Indictment or Information shall be tried, to find the Defendant or Defendants Guilty, merely on the Proof of the Publication by such Defendant or Defendants of the Paper charged to be a Libel, and of the Sense ascribed to the same in such Indictment or Information.
II But the Court shall give their Opinion and Directions on the Matter in Issue, as in other Criminal Cases.
II. Provided always, That, on every such Trial, the Court or Judge before whom such Indictment or Information shall be tried, shall, according to their or his Discretion, give their or his Opinion and Directions to the Jury on the Matter in Issue between the King and the Defendant or Defendants, in like Manner as in other Criminal Cases.
III Jury may find a Special Verdict.
III. Provided also, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to prevent the Jury from finding a Special Verdict, in their Discretion, as in other Criminal Cases.
IV Defendants may move in Arrest of Judgement, as before passing this Act.
IV. Provided also, That...
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