What is compurgation?
Q: What is compurgation?
A: Compurgation is an ancient defence in a legal trial where an accused person could call a number of people to swear to their belief in his or her innocence.
Q: How many people could an accused person call in compurgation?
A: An accused person could call a number of people, usually twelve.
Q: When was compurgation abolished in common law in England?
A: Compurgation was abolished in common law in England by the Constitutions of Clarendon of Henry II in 1164.
Q: Was compurgation still permitted in civil actions for debt?
A: Yes, compurgation was still permitted in civil actions for debt.
Q: When was compurgation entirely abolished in England?
A: Compurgation was entirely abolished in England in 1833.
Q: Why did compurgation become obsolete in England?
A: Compurgation became obsolete in England due to the rise of other forms of evidence gathering, such as witnesses and physical evidence.
Q: Did other countries also use compurgation as a defence in legal trials?
A: Yes, other countries also used compurgation as a defence in legal trials, such as Germany and Scandinavia.
