Ministry of Transport v Nicol - [1980] 1 NZLR 436

Criminal law — Summary proceedings — Statute confers power to amend information "at any time during the hearing" - Magistrate amended information by substituting a lesser charge after evidence had been concluded and no addresses by counsel were to be made — In an oral judgment he convicted defendant of lesser charge — Whether Magistrate had amended information "during the hearing" - Whether Magistrate's Court may amend information of its own motion — Summary Proceedings Act 1957, ss 43, 67 and 68.