13 steps in a criminal case


This section deals with asset forfeiture under the provisions of POCA only. [501] The skimpier the summary of substantial facts, the greater the need for particularity in the charge. If the child has been arrested on a Schedule 1 offence, section 22 requires a police official to release the child on bail prior to first appearance, unless the parents and guardian cannot be found despite diligent effort, or unless there is substantial risk that release would constitute a danger to someone else or the child itself. that the child acknowledges responsibility for the offence; that the child, together with its parent or a suitable adult, accepts diversion; and. How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help You. [329] Section 51(1) provides for High Courts and regional courts to impose a minimum life sentence for certain crimes. [36] Telegraphic or similar written or printed communication from the magistrate or justice of peace, stating that the warrant has been issued, is sufficient to authorise the peace officer to effect the arrest. A permanent stay of prosecution was granted accordingly. The trial judge ought to have examined the statements. "the conclusion of the preliminary inquiry; "the appearance of the child in a child justice court; or, "the referral of the matter to a children's court, where applicable.".

Thus the State can’t refuse to say more if the accused requires further particulars. There are many parts of it that may prove difficult to achieve in practice, especially if many calls are made on the time and skill of probation officers. that, if need be, his body must be forcibly confined. If you're searching for a case online, you can enter the same information into the search bar of the legal search engine you're using to pull up the case. You do this by finding out what happened to the case after the decision you found, and how other courts treated the decision once it was published. [561] The application may be ex parte (s 38(1)), but that does not mean that the ordinary principles of audi alteram partem do not apply. The following are the general powers or duties of the court at bail hearings: The court is required first to consider, in principle, whether or not bail should be granted, and then to enquire into a suitable amount of money in view of the accused's circumstances. The state cross-examines these witnesses, and the defence may re-examine them. The new provisions relating to the requirement of leave to appeal for cases involving children are contained in section 84, and have already been referred to. the effect of the earlier plea explanation, in particular the fact that it is, the prevalence of the crime in question; and.

The laws in your state and/or city may deviate significantly from those described here. Some specially fitted identity-parade rooms have one-way glass so that witnesses do not feel intimidated by confrontation with possible suspects. The accused or his legal adviser is compelled to inform court of, The record of bail proceedings forms part of the trial record. It is also the method used to transfer a case from the Magistrate’s Court to a Regional Court where the magistrate does have territorial and offence-type jurisdiction, but the State feels that it is likely that the sentence will exceed the magistrate’s sentence jurisdiction. [259] Documents of this type are catered for specifically in certain provisions. private prosecution by a person or statutory body upon whom or upon which the power to prosecute is expressly conferred by statute.

In many ways, doing legal research is similar to researching anything else. We have a wealth of experience and have conducted cases at each of the above Courts. [317], Sentences run consecutively unless the court orders otherwise.

The following are the most important of those types of person whom private persons may arrest without a warrant: As to the question of whether a person who is otherwise entitled to arrest without warrant is obliged to consider whether a less invasive method would suffice to secure the attendance of the accused before court, previously the Appellate Division held that such a person could do so even if there was available a satisfactory but less invasive method of securing attendance. The relevant parts of POCA are Chapters 5 and 6. There are as yet no decided cases on the provisions of CJA. 1. It is not simply a matter of contrasting simple and complex cases. his own emotional and personal reactions of anxiety and stress, which necessitated the use of medically prescribed tranquillisers and sleeping tablets, together with the great strain placed on his limited financial resources by the drawn-out proceedings. In the second application, the applicant was the Commissioner of the SAPS, who desired an order declaring that the privilege which existed in respect of the contents of police dockets immediately prior to the commencement of the Constitution was not repealed or amended by section 23, but that the accused was entitled before trial only to copies of. is such that no reasonable court could convict on it.[276]. Section 60 provides for a proper register to be kept of all diversions, so that track can be kept. [442][443] A warrant cannot authorise private persons to search. He had not been bound by any stopping of the prosecution by the prosecutor. The term "normal court day" does not cover the situation of periodical courts, which do not sit daily. According to subsections 35(3)(a) and (b) of the Constitution, every accused person has a right to a fair trial, which includes the right to be informed of the charge with sufficient detail to answer it, and to have adequate time and facilities to prepare a defence. Conditional stays were entered with respect to the theft counts. Sections 21 and 22 provide for special ways of proving what the proceeds of the unlawful activities were. A former secretary of his was a Crown witness at the preliminary inquiry, where she gave evidence apparently favourable to the defence. The prosecutor, however, is still obliged to disclose all evidence to the accused. On 12 November 1996, the appellant applied to a Local Division for an order permanently staying the proceedings against him, and permanently prohibiting the respondent from re-instituting any prosecution against him in respect of the same charges. Accordingly he was sentenced to four years' imprisonment.

This was better done by the Legislature. Civil and Criminal Cases. If a lower court refuses to order particulars, the accused can approach the High Court for a mandamus. It is important in this regard to note that an objection may be taken not to the so-called "splitting of charges," but rather to the duplication of convictions. The reason for this is that before 1977, the procedure was carried out in such a way that the accused had to plead as early as possible.

[346], Rule 67 allows fifteen days for noting an appeal. While more excusable than individual derelictions of duty, there had to come a time when systemic causes could no longer be regarded as exculpatory. See S v Melani. This tells you that the case is a U.S. Supreme Court case, published in the U.S. Reporter, and that you'll find the case on page 248 of volume 22. [450], The person lawfully in charge or occupation of premises may, if he reasonably believes that certain categories of goods may be on such premises, search them for such goods without a warrant. You'll have to read the higher court case to determine if the reasoning was the same. At this stage, the defense attorney can make a motion to the judge to dismiss the case if he or she feels that the evidence does not meet this threshold. In the line of citations, look for words or codes used as signals to tell you how the case was treated in the citations that follow. In extreme cases, the court may grant a permanent stay of prosecution, if the prosecution is not brought within a reasonable time.[434][435][436]. It is regarded as evidence, not part of the charge itself. where the DPP requests the judicial officer to forward the record. If the prosecution does not comply, the court may quash the charge.[177]. Accordingly, the NDPP had not been obliged, simply by the provisions of section 7(2), to issue a certificate nolle prosequi once he had declined to prosecute. Even relatively minor offences may have a profound effect upon your life or career. [451], Where state security may be endangered, and the police official believes reasonably. The Preamble to the CJA sets out the aims of the Act. The presiding officer may convict if satisfied that the accused is guilty. The State contended that the prosecutor had not been authorised to stop the prosecution, and that the decision to close the State's case had amounted to a stopping of the prosecution; the acquittal ought therefore to be set aside and the case referred back to the court a quo to complete the trial. See S v Sadeke. [9] The effect of the arrest is that the arrestee is in lawful custody. Please indicate whether you consent to us using cookies. Steps in a Trial.

The right to legal representation is important not only for the trial itself, but also for pre-trial evidence-gathering. An award under section 300 is usually inappropriate if the accused is sentenced to a lengthy period of imprisonment and has no assets.[330]. The DPP requires leave to appeal.

U.S. law is more than just statutes passed by legislatures. [53] When considering bail applications, the courts should ignore improper pressure: for example, the threat that the accused will go on hunger strike if bail is refused,[54] or that people opposed to bail will resort to illegal activity if bail is granted. [321], Suspended sentences are imposed frequently, either in whole or in part. The failure to take certain basic steps, such as failing to consult, stands on a different footing from the failure to cross-examine effectively or the decision to call or not to call a particular witness. [139] The correctness of these cases is doubtful.