Words in charge taken in sense of law under which offence is punishable

Words used in a criminal charge are to be read with the meaning the law that creates the offence gives them. If a term in the charge has a statutory definition, that legal meaning governs how the accused is to be understood and tried. This prevents ordinary-language meanings from changing the legal scope of the charge.

Priya is charged with 'theft' for moving goods from a shared store. The statute defines 'theft' to require dishonest removal, not every disputed transfer. Under this rule the court will read 'theft' according to the statute, not ordinary usage.