Memoria (licenciado en ciencias jurídicas y sociales) / Este trabajo se engloba dentro del proceso de avance masivo y veloz de las redes sociales digitales del cual nuestro país no es ajeno, y que, con sus enormes ventajas para los diferentes ámbitos de nuestra vida, trae variadas desventajas, dentro de las cuales destacamos los actos que atentan o vulneran el derecho al honor a través de estas plataformas por Internet. Por ello, la presente Memoria de Prueba se encarga específicamente de estudiar y exponer al lector la situación actual de nuestro ordenamiento jurídico con relación a los delitos de injurias y calumnias cuando su medio de comisión son las redes sociales. De esta forma, parte este trabajo realizando un análisis breve de los macro conceptos que se relacionan con el tema planteado y cumplen una función introductoria, para posteriormente, mostrar el tratamiento que nuestro ordenamiento jurídico le da al derecho al honor/honra en sede constitucional, penal y civil, respectivamente. Continúa luego el examen de la situación procesal de las injurias y calumnias en sede constitucional, penal y civil cuando estas son cometidas a través de redes sociales digitales, donde el mayor énfasis está puesto en las reglas de competencia de los tribunales y los medios de prueba de los que pueden valerse las partes, lo que se contrasta con algunos casos que se han producido en los tribunales chilenos, para efectos de mostrar las diferencias entre la teoría y la práctica. Finaliza el estudio con una breve exposición del tratamiento jurídico, principalmente procesal y penal, que otorgan algunas legislaciones comparadas a los delitos de injurias y calumnias, especialmente cuando su comisión es a través de alguno de los modernos medios informáticos, como es el caso de las redes sociales digitales.

In this thesis, the common law crime of obstructing or defeating the course of justice as currently applied in South African law, is considered critically. The purpose of the study is to determine whether the ambit of the crime should be extended to target all conduct which undermines the proper administration of justice in South Africa. The interests protected by the crime are investigated, and those important constitutional values which underpin the crime, are identified. These values are: (i) constitutional supremacy (ii) the rule of law (iii) the doctrine of separation of powers, and (iv) the independence of the courts. In a post-constitutional era, the question raised is whether the crime as developed in the common law adequately protects these important democratic values. The historical background and development of the offence are discussed. This is followed by a comparative legal study which considers the existence and ambit of the offence in certain foreign jurisdictions. The foreign legal systems considered are England, Australia, Canada and the United States of America. The study reveals that the crime has been codified in most of these jurisdictions. Codification was driven by the need for legal certainty and compliance with constitutional imperatives. The study concludes that similar reform is necessary in South African criminal law. It is recommended that the common law offence of obstructing or defeating the course of justice be repealed and replaced with a comprehensive statutory offence which criminalises all manifestations of conduct which are intended to defeat or obstruct the proper administration of justice. The proposals are based upon the identified constitutional imperatives which underpin the crime. It is argued that the legislature is the proper institution to initiate reform in this regard. Detailed recommendations are made, which include draft legislation. / Law / LL.D.

In this thesis, the common law crime of obstructing or defeating the course of justice as currently applied in South African law, is considered critically. The purpose of the study is to determine whether the ambit of the crime should be extended to target all conduct which undermines the proper administration of justice in South Africa. The interests protected by the crime are investigated, and those important constitutional values which underpin the crime, are identified. These values are: (i) constitutional supremacy (ii) the rule of law (iii) the doctrine of separation of powers, and (iv) the independence of the courts. In a post-constitutional era, the question raised is whether the crime as developed in the common law adequately protects these important democratic values. The historical background and development of the offence are discussed. This is followed by a comparative legal study which considers the existence and ambit of the offence in certain foreign jurisdictions. The foreign legal systems considered are England, Australia, Canada and the United States of America. The study reveals that the crime has been codified in most of these jurisdictions. Codification was driven by the need for legal certainty and compliance with constitutional imperatives. The study concludes that similar reform is necessary in South African criminal law. It is recommended that the common law offence of obstructing or defeating the course of justice be repealed and replaced with a comprehensive statutory offence which criminalises all manifestations of conduct which are intended to defeat or obstruct the proper administration of justice. The proposals are based upon the identified constitutional imperatives which underpin the crime. It is argued that the legislature is the proper institution to initiate reform in this regard. Detailed recommendations are made, which include draft legislation. / Law / LL.D.