article_snippet.sent: A senior officer attended the hearing and said the law changed in 1996 that meant an act was presumed not to have caused a person's death if an act happened more than a year before.
article_snippet.sent: But Det Con Insp David Elliott said as Liam Dawe injuries were caused in 1993 before the rules came into force, fresh manslaughter charges could still be brought.
article_snippet.sent: The 'year and a day rule' stated that an act was presumed not to have caused a person to die if more than a year and a day had elapsed before death.
article_snippet.sent: The ancient rule, which applied to death and suicide, was abolished under the Law Reform Act 1996 amid medical advances.
article_snippet.sent: However, the permission of the Attorney General is still required for any prosecution where the permission of the Attorney General is claimed that death occurred more than three years after the Law Reform Act, or when the offender has previously been convicted of an offence in connection with death. '
article_snippet.sent: In June 1996, there was a law change to the "Year and a Day" rule which stated an act was presumed not to have caused a person's death if more than a year and a day had elapsed before death. '
article_snippet.sent: However, as his injuries were sustained in January 1993, a Day" rule still stands.'