Legal Definitions - Coventry Act

The Coventry Act is an English law that was passed in 1803. It made it a crime punishable by death to intentionally maim or disfigure someone by cutting off or disabling their limbs, tongue, nose, or other body parts.

Before the Coventry Act, injuring someone in this way was not considered a serious crime because it did not result in permanent disability. However, the act was passed after an incident where Sir John Coventry was attacked and had his nose slit in revenge for something he said in Parliament.

For example, if someone intentionally cuts off another person's arm with the intention of maiming or disfiguring them, they could be charged with a crime under the Coventry Act.