This is a simple yet comprehensive flowchart/mindmap that I made for BTC Criminal Litigation BSB assessment according to the syllabus. I used it as a memory jogger every night before bed, whilst on a train, in the cafe etc., just anytime, anywhere so that I can recall the important information duri...
Must have ARREST Either/or WRITTEN CHARGE & ACQUISITION
reasonable grounds
to suspect that an Detained at
offence has been Bail Suspect’s right:
police station Free legal advice
committed
Inform friends/family
Governed by PACE Investigation Sees Code of Practice
CPS →Charge or not charge? Rights, Interpreter
1984
Timing of charge:
For ‘Summary only’ offence, 6 m of date of alleged offence; no time limit for either way, indictable
PLEA
1ST HEARING
(Magistrate Court)
If plead - Summary
GUILTY - Either-way
If plead
- Indictable only
NOT GUILTY
SENTENCING Prosecution →
TRIAL bears overall
Parties call evidence burden to prove
& court determines beyond
CREDIT afforded on sentence if D is guilty or not. reasonable doubt
If plead guilty at the:
1ST opportunity 1/3 = 33%
Next hearing (PTPH) 1/4 = 25% GUILTY NOT GUILTY
Continue to reduce 10% Proceed to Acquitted of
until day of trial sentence charge
APPEAL
CROWN COURT COURT OF APPEAL
MAG’T CT/ YOUTH COURT
to to
to
COURT OF APPEAL SUPREME COURT
CROWN COURT
(Leave required)
(NO LEAVE)= Automatic (Leave required)
Only point of general PUBLIC
REHEARING
IMPORTANCE
, UNUSED MATERIAL
Investigative material not being
USED MATERIAL DISCLOSURE relied upon by prosecution:
Lots of investigation material builds up - Statement from witness
Case papers/ other materials during criminal investigation (WS, Doc, prosecution is not relying upon
CCTV, etc.) From these material, prosc will
forming part of the evidence, to prove its case
decide which to use (relied upon trial) and
including items like: indictment, which will be unused (not relied upon trial) - Records of previous
statement from prosecution convictions of prosecution
witnesses, D’s record of taped witnesses, disciplinary findings
interview, other documentary 4 stages of disclosure against police officers.
exhibit (plan/diagrams). →it is 1. investigation stage (duty to Why is it important?
from these material D would record & retain material during It would be wrong to only reveal to
investigation) D material that supports prosecution
know what case against him.
2. initial duty of disclosure on case. Fairness demands that
prosecution material in prosecution’s hand that
Prosecution will serve Initial Details of 3. Defence disclosure might help D is served on D. D may
prosecution case (USED MATERIAL) no later 4. Continuing duty on prosecution then present that material in his
than beginning of day of 1st hearing (at to keep disclosure under review defence at trial.
Magistrate Court).
Initial details include: sufficient info to allow D FULL AND PROPER DISCLOSURE is at
& court to take informed view on: ****TIME LIMITS ****** Heart of fair system of criminal
1. Plea Only If case is sent to CC for trial: justice
2. Venue for trial (if either-way) A PTPH will take place usually 28 days after
3. Case management purposes sending.
SPECIFIC DISCLOSURE (SD)
4. Sentencing purposes (including Prosecution should serve to D sufficient
D can make an application to ct where it has
committal for sentence if either way). evidence in advance of PTPH (28d) to enable ‘reasonable cause to believe’ that there is
court to case manage the case effectively. prosecution material which should have
Disclosure of UNUSED material by been disclosed under S7A(5) [disclosure
prosecution D serves defence statement (14d) following service of Defence Statement] but
Magistrate Court Crown Court - Crown Court only which wasn’t disclosed.
Only when D pleads When D is sent for - *Mag Ct not compulsory to serve Condition for making an application for SD:
defence stmt.* 1. D must have served a Defence
not guilty & case trial; or where a
Statement (in MC or CC). Without
adjourned for Voluntary Bill of Defence statement must:
which, cannot apply.
summary trial Indictment has been 1. Set out nature of accused’s
2. Prosecutor must have either provided
preferred against a defence (e.g if alibi - give name, further disclosure in light of the
Where streamlined D→ then “as soon address D.O.B or as many details) Defence Statement; or notified D
disclosure as practicable” 2. Indicating the matters of fact on there is no further disclosure to be
certificate is afterwards.
which he takes issue with made.
required, it must be Judicial Disclosure Protocol: If issues are not
prosecution
disclosed to accused That is when duty set out clearly in Defence Statement, then
3. Setting out, in the case such matter,
either at the ARISES but there is application for SD Should be rejected.
hearing at which a no statutory time why he takes issue with
PROCEDURE [CrimPR r15.5]
not guilty plea is limit in CC = default prosecution
- Judge can deal with disclosure issues
entered; or as soon position → “as soon 4. Indicating any point of law
exclusively by reference to written
as possible as practicable” (including re admissibility of submissions, and can limit their
following formal evidence or abuse of process) length.
indication from which he wishes to take, and any - D must serve application on court
accused/ his rep relevant authority for it. and prosecution.
that a not guilty ❖ Failure to serve defence statement: - Application must describe the
plea will be entered. Adverse inference material defence wants disclose &
Note: Prosecution has a Continuing duty of to keep why there is reasonable cause to
disclosure under review throughout the case, and in believe:
particular when the Defence Statement is served a. That prosecutor has the material
b. That it is material that should be
Notify Crown+Ct witness required to attend disclosed under CPIA.
court to give live evidence (7d) - D should ask for a hearing if one is
required and explain why it is
needed.
D must oppose Prosc’s application to intro
- Prosecutor has 14D to respond in
BC evid (7d)
writing.
Note: such application are last resort,
D: intention to bring in Hearsay, bad discussion and cooperation between
character of Prosc witness, serve statement parties outside court is encouraged to
if witness x called to give live evid. (14d) ensure court is only asked for s8
application when necessary.
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