Hypothetical theft of head

[Vagrant]

Suppose a motorcyclist loses control of his/her machine, comes off, hits a lamp post, and is decapitated. This event is witnessed by several people. The police arrive on the scene to investigate. Their initial conclusions are that no crime has been committed, it's a simple accident.
At this point, someone drives past - notices what's going on, stops, runs over to the accident scene, picks up the severed head, runs back to their car, and speeds away.
When they get home, they put the head on a spike in their front garden.
What crime (UK Law) have they committed?

[dothawkes31]

interferring with evidence

[grasscarp]

theft of body parts? why do you need to know the answer even if only hypothetical?

[jno]

possibly none - this is 9 years old but may still be true:

http://www.nursingtim...he-law/206118.article

[Buenchico]

You can't own or steal a human body (or any part of it). That was confirmed when some Sheffield students nicked a corpse from the university morgue (during rag week). They were only charged with the theft of the shroud.

'Preventing a burial' is one possible charge but 'outraging public decency' might also be an option.

Chris

[Vagrant]

I don't "need" to know - it's simply something I'm interested in - bizarre events that are difficult to classify in law.

[Vagrant]

A (Australian) legally qualified friend of mine has just suggested that the nationality of the head would have some bearing on the matter - he reckons if the head is not of UK origin, theft of the deceased's estate might apply.

[keithlbw]

Driving under the influence of drink or drugs .
Why else would they run off with someones head.! ! !

[jake-the-peg]

Not sure if that's entirely right Chris

http://en.wikipedia.o...ki/Anthony-Noel_Kelly

This case was related to body parts used for medical research - there appear to be some subtlties in the issue

[Whickerman]

got to love this site...