1934 Present: Maartensz A.J.

[FIRST WESTERN SESSIONS, 1934. ]

KING v. WICKREMASINGHE.

49-P. C. Colombo, 4,165.

    Joinder of charges-Three offences against three different persons-Evidence of similar acts-Criminal Procedure Code, s. 179-Evidence Act, s. 14.

Where an accused was charged with having committed three acts of indecency with three different persons within a period of twelve months,-

Held, that the inclusion of the charges against three different persons in the same indictment was not obnoxious to section 179 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Held, further, that the evidence of similar acts committed by the accused on the persons mentioned in the indictment was inadmissible.

Held, also, that separate trials should not be ordered in such a case merely because of the possibility that a Judge or Jury might suspect each of them to be true.

THE accused was charged before the First Western Sessions of the J- Supreme Court with having committed three acts of gross indecency with three different boys within a period of twelve months.

E. H. T. Gunasekera, C.C., for the Crown.

S. W. R. Dias Bandaranayake (with him Rajakaruna), fo