Substantial Amendment of the Information

Category: Criminal Procedure

Substantial Amendment of the Information

IS AN ADDITIONAL ALLEGATION OF HABITUAL DELINQUENCY AND RECIDIVISM A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT?

> No,  these  allegations  only  relate  to  the  range  of  the  imposable penalty but not the nature of the offense 

IS  THE  AMENDMENT  OF  AN  INFORMATION  FROM  FRUSTRATED MURDER TO CONSUMMATED MURDER A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT?

> No,  it  is  merely  a  formal  amendment  and  the  accused  need  not have to be re-arraigned

IS AN ADDITIONAL ALLEGATION OF CONSPIRACY A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT?

> No, it is not a substantial amendment in the following example: X is charged with murder as principal.  Later, the  complaint  is  amended  to  include  two  other  persons  who allegedly conspired with X.  Can X invoke double jeopardy on the ground that the amendment is substantial?  No.  The amendment is merely a formal amendment because it does not prejudice the rights of X, who was charged as a principal to begin with. 

X  IS  CHARGED  WITH  MURDER  AS  A  PRINCIPAL.    LATER,  THE COMPLAINT IS AMENDED TO INCLUDE TWO OTHER PERSONS WHO ALLEGEDLY CONSPIRED WITH X. VALID?

>  X   cannot   invoke   double   jeopardy   on   the   ground   that   the amendment is substantial
> The amendment is merely a formal amendment because it doesn’t prejudice the rights of X, who was charged as a principal to begin with

IS A CHANGE IN THE ITEMS  STOLEN BY THE ACCUSED A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT OR A FORMAL AMENDMENT?

> It is substantial as it affects the essence of the imputed crime and would  deprive  the  accused  of  the  opportunity  to  meet  all  the allegations in preparation of his defense

IS   THE  CHANGE  IN  THE  NATURE  OF  THE  OFFENSE  DUE   TO SUPERVENING EVENT A SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT?

>  No, it is merely a formal amendment
>  We  have  to  distinguish  if  the  event  is  supervening  or  not,  to  be able to establish if it’s a formal amendment or not