''Betts v. Armstead'', L.R. 20 Q.B.D. 771 (1888), was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

case decided by the

Queen's Bench The King's Bench (), or, during the reign of a female monarch, the Queen's Bench ('), refers to several contemporary and historical courts in some Commonwealth jurisdictions. * Court of King's Bench (England), a historic court court of common ...

that adopted a

strict liability In criminal and civil law, strict liability is a standard of liability under which a person is legally responsible for the consequences flowing from an activity even in the absence of fault or criminal intent on the part of the defendant. ...

standard and furthermore no requirement of knowledge or suspicion for violations of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act 1875 ( 38 & 39 Vict. c. 63). The defendant contended that he did not know that his product did not abide by the standards of the

statute A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs the legal entities of a city, state, or country by way of consent. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. Statutes are rules made by le ...

, but the court held that there was no

mens rea In criminal law, (; Law Latin for "guilty mind") is the mental element of a person's intention to commit a crime; or knowledge that one's action (or lack of action) would cause a crime to be committed. It is considered a necessary element ...

requirement for the violation.Bonnie, R.J. et al. ''Criminal Law, Second Edition.'' Foundation Press, New York, NY: 2004, p. 252

References

English criminal case law 1888 in case law 1888 in England Food safety in the United Kingdom 1888 in British law High Court of Justice cases {{case-law-stub