Watson v Clarke - [1990] 1 NZLR 715

Criminal law — Jurisdiction — Abuse of Court's process — Inherent power of District Court — Informant swore information 14 months after date of alleged offence and when defendant was not served the District Court Judge dismissed the information as an abuse of process because of delay — Informant also swore information against another defendant 10 months after date of alleged offence — Judge refused adjournment sought by defendant, required informant to proceed and when he was unable to do so Judge dismissed information — Whether District Court has inherent power to prevent abuse of its own process — Whether delay may constitute abuse of process — Whether Judge was entitled to dismiss first information — Whether Judge should have granted adjournment of second information.