SOC 1500 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Indictable Offence, Summary Offence, Precedent
2 Aug 2013
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In early societies common custom and tradition were equal to law. Earliest legal codes developed on 2000 bce called code of hammurabi : punishment based on retaliation (eye for an eye) 1200 bce was the mosaic code : foundation of judeo-christian moral techniques used today as well, prohibited against murder and other crimes. Wergild: money paid by the offender to victim. Early rome they had gladiators who fought in combat and in german law had the hot iron method: if rod had traces of blood, offender was guilty. Oath-helpers: during middle ages, groups of people support accused innocence. Laws were created and run by the rulers and people in power and tried cases based on local custom. Common law started in england and standardized law and justice in middle ages (foundation of canada"s legal system) Crime and custom: crimes were personal wrongs. Fines were paid even for homicides unless by poisons.
