Witchcraft, A Historical and legal study and the Influence on Criminal Procedure (English Edition)

This book shows how Europe has had a fraught legal history in dealing with witchcraft. With the various judicial systems, failing to provide a fair and just structure to deal with the context of occult beliefs. It instead based the system on hysteria and irrationality at the expense of natural justice. It charts the history of the law on witchcraft from the 15th Century to its repeal in 1951. And includes the legal history of how witchcraft as a crime, was first recognised by the legislators in 1542. Creating legislative and evidential problems until as late as 1944 with the Helen Duncan trial. It asks the question could it happen again in today’s civilised society? And reaches a brave and stark conclusion for the 21st Century.