Government minister 'hopes' cannibalism at sea no longer needed
Modern day technologies should prevent stranded sailors from resorting to cannibalism, a government minister hopes.

The conversation in the upper chamber arose after another member raised the odd legal precedent set in the late 19th century.

It harkens back to 1884, when captain Tom Dudley and mate Edwin Stephens were stranded at sea in a lifeboat following a shipwreck in the South Atlantic, off the coast of Africa.

Cabin boy Richard Parker was with the pair, and in poor health according to the sailors.

Following several weeks trapped on the insignificant and unprovisioned vessel, with their colleague close to death, Dudley and Stephens took the step to kill and eat him in order to fend off starvation.

After being rescued and returned to the UK, the pair justified their actions as a "custom of the sea", and hoped to avoid conviction.

However, this was rejected and both men were subsequently convicted of murder and sentenced to death - although this was later commuted to a six month prison sentence by the Crown.

The case set the precedent in common law that necessity is not a defence when charged with murder.