Criminal Code

Marginal note:Substance of offence

• 581 (1) Each count in an indictment shall in general apply to a single transaction and shall contain in substance a statement that the accused or defendant committed an offence therein specified.

• Marginal note:Form of statement

  (2) The statement referred to in subsection (1) may be

  • (a) in popular language without technical averments or allegations of matters that are not essential to be proved;

  • (b) in the words of the enactment that describes the offence or declares the matters charged to be an indictable offence; or

  • (c) in words that are sufficient to give to the accused notice of the offence with which he is charged.

• Marginal note:Details of circumstances

  (3) A count shall contain sufficient detail of the circumstances of the alleged offence to give to the accused reasonable information with respect to the act or omission to be proved against him and to identify the transaction referred to, but otherwise the absence or insufficiency of details does not vitiate the count.

• Marginal note:Indictment for treason

  (4) Where an accused is charged with an offence under section 47 or sections 49 to 53, every overt act that is to be relied on shall be stated in the indictment.

• Marginal note:Reference to section

  (5) A count may refer to any section, subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the enactment that creates the offence charged, and for the purpose of determining whether a count is sufficient, consideration shall be given to any such reference.

• Marginal note:General provisions not restricted

  (6) Nothing in this Part relating to matters that do not render a count insufficient shall be deemed to restrict or limit the application of this section.