[1979] AC 474 (HL). This case concerned the conviction of a man for assaulting his wife, on the basis of evidence given under compulsion by the wife (see CompellableWitness). The facts of the case aren't particular important now that this situation is governed by PACE (a wife is not usually compellable against her husband, but by s.80(3) she would be compellable in the circumtances of Hoskyn, because this was an offence involving injury to herself). This case is usually cited as a confirmation of the general common-law principle that any witness who is competent for a particular party is compellable for that party. See also CompetentWitness.
Law glossary index
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