In many common law jurisdictions, an indictable offence is an offence which can only be tried on an indictment after a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is a prima facie case to answer or by a grand jury.

What is meant by indictable offence?

An offence that may be tried on indictment. Most serious common-law offences are indictable (e.g. murder, rape) and many are created by statute. When a statute creates an offence without specifying how it is to be tried, it is automatically an indictable offence.

What is an example of an indictable offence?

Indictable offences are the most serious offences under the Criminal Code and they come with more serious punishments. Examples of this type of offence are theft over $5,000, assault or murder. ... For other indictable offences, such as first-degree murder, you must have a trial with a B.C. Supreme Court judge and jury.