§ 12-12-3 - Formal defects in process not ground for abatement or quashing. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 12-12-3

   § 12-12-3  Formal defects in process notground for abatement or quashing. – No indictment, information, complaint or criminal process shall be abated orquashed for any want of form, or because it omits to allege that the offensewas committed or the act was done "feloniously," "burglariously," "willfully,""maliciously," or with "malice aforethought," "unlawfully," "negligently," orwith "force and arms," or because it omits to characterize similarly the mannerof the commission of the offense, or because it omits to allege the means bywhich the offense was committed or omits to allege the time and place of thecommission of the offense, unless the description, characterization, means,time, or place is an essential element of the offense; provided, that itcontains such allegation of the offense that the accused is informed of thenature and cause of the accusation.