ABSTRACT

A confession is a species of admission. When in the course of an investigation into a criminal offence, a suspect has made a statement to the police tending to show that he has committed that offence, the statement is known as a confession. Confession is governed by rules which assist the court in the administration of justice.

This study takes a look at what confession is, its nature and scope. It also considers factors which can make a confessional statement inadmissible and irrelevant. It examines the voluntariness and retraction of a confessional statement as well as confessions of other offences in addition to those charged.