Report this comment to a moderator

Abu Qatada and the law of time

Calculating time is difficult as the legislative language is often not that precise. However where a period is calculated from an event in an English statute, the day of the event is not included: see Pritam Kaur v S Russell & Sons Ltd [1973] QB 336. In Pritam Kaur proceedings for a fatal accident had to be brought ‘within three years after the death’ and ‘shall not be brought after the expiration of [three] years from the date on which the cause of action accrued’. The Court of Appeal held that three years from (or after) 5th September 1967 was 5th September 1970. This interpretation would also suggest that Abu Qatada's appeal was brought in time.

19-Apr-2012

1:34 pm