Statutory Interpretation Cases

Question 1

Whiteley V Chappell - Literal Rule

Answer 1

A statute made it an offence ‘to impersonate any person entitled to vote.’ The defendant used the vote of a dead man. The statute relating to voting rights required a person to be living in order to be entitled to vote.
HELD: The literal rule was applied and the defendant was thus acquitted.

Question 2

Fisher V Bell - Literal Rule

Answer 2

Flick knife. Lord Parker acquitted Bell under the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959 even though it was obvious that this was the sort of behaviour that Parliament intended to stop