What's Wrong with Section 300(C) Murder?

Abstract

The definitions of culpable homicide and murder, found in sections 299 and 300 of the Penal Code, were described by Sir James Stephen in 1883 as "the weakest part of the Code." This is definitely true if we go by the number of appeals to the Court of Appeal regarding the application of section 300(c). The more important reported cases, in chronological order, are: Tsung Yuk Chung v. PP, Tan Cheow Bock v. PP, Chandran v. PP, Tan Joo Cheng v. PP, Tan Chee Hwee v. PP, Sim Eng Teck v. PP, Ong Chee Hoe v. PP and Tan Chee Wee v. PP.