03 Bail and Remands Flashcards
When can the Crown Court adjourn a case?
At any stage before the case is sent to the Crown Court for trial
When can the Magistrates’ Court adjourn a case?
At any stage before or during summary trial
What is the starting point for adjourning a case?
The starting point is that the trial should proceed
What must the Court have regards to when considering adjournment?
- Court’s duty to deal with cases justly
- need for expedition / delay is inimical to the interest of justice
- Must be clear reasons for adjourning
- Interest of the accused / Public interest
- Consequences of adjournment
- Impact of adjournment on other cases
- Period of adjournment
True or False: An adjournment cannot be challenged?
False
How would an accused go about challenging an adjournment?
Judicial Review
How will the Divisional Court deal with challenges to decisions on adjournment?
Particularly slow to interfere with decisions on a adjournment
Who deals with Judicial Review?
The Divisional Court
Why are the Divisional Court particularly slow with dealing with challenges to decisions on adjournment?
adjournment decisions are discretionary to each court
What grounds would an appeal on a decision on adjournment be successful?
well-recognised but limited limited
What happens if Magistrates’ court refuse an adjournment and the prosecution has failed to provide evidence?
The charge is dismissed
Example of when prosecution charge may be dismissed following application to adjourn?
Where Magistrates’ court refuse adjournment and prosecution fail to submit evidence
When may the Court give information of when trial is to be resumed following acceptance of adjournment?
When adjourning, court may fix a time and place for trial
If it remands the accused, court may leave the time and place to be determined later
True or False: Court must decide time and place of trial when adjournment decision made?
False.
If it remands the accused, court may leave the time and place to be determined later
If Court remands the accused following adjournment decision, when can they give details of trial?
Court can leave time and place to be determined later
What may the Court do in terms of the accused following a decision on adjournment?
- Accused on Remand on Bail
2. Accused on Remand in custody
What happens at the of the period of adjournments if the accused is on remand?
accused is to appear before the court
What happens at the of the period of adjournments if the accused is on bail and bail is made continuous?
accused is to appear before the court every time to which proceedings may be adjourned
What must the court do in terms of the accused in adjourning proceedings for either-way offence?
Court must remand the accused
What are exceptions to remanding accused when adjourning either-way offence?
- if accused first appeared in answer to a summons/requisition
- accused not remanded at earlier hearing
When can the Magistrates’ court adjourn without remanding the accused?
- At all appearances for summary offences up to conviction
2. At appearances for either-way offences up to either determination for trial on indictment or summary conviction
When can the Magistrates’ court adjourn without remanding the accused in either-way offences?
- Up to determination for trial on indictment
2. Summary conviction
When does the question of bail arise when accused appears before the court in response to written charge and requisition?
- if Magistrates’ court chooses to remand the defendant rather than simply adjourning the case
- if there appears to be a good reason
True or False: when case is simply adjourned, court must fix date for the next hearing there and then? Why?
False? When a case is simply adjourned, there is no need to fix hearing at the time of adjournment
When must the date be fixed for the next hearing if accused is remanded? Why?
date can be fixed at the time as it becomes the date to which the accused is remanded
True or False: failing to come to court when on remand is always an offence?
False
When is failing to appear in court on date to which case is adjourned not considered an offence?
if the accused is not remanded
What may happen if accused fails to appear in court on date to which case is adjourned but is not considered an offence?
- Arrest warrant may be issued
2. proceedings conducted w/o accused
When is failing to appear in court on date to which case is adjourned considered an offence?
- if accused has been remanded on bail
- failure is w/o reasonable cause
- commits an offence under Bail Act 1976
True or False: a person who is brought before a court after an earlier remand may not be remanded again?
False
True or False: There may only be one remand hearing before case is sent to the Crown court/ commencement of Summary trial?
False. There may be several hearings
What are the limitations to to the number of remands?
There is no limit. Only at Judges’ discretion to refuse in the interest of justice
How can the court grant bail if the accused is not present?
Court may grant bail by simply appointing later time for the appearance
under what circumstances can the accused be remanded for a period greater than 8 days?
- If remand is on bail
2. If both accused and prosecution agree to a longer period of remand
What section of which legislation empowers the Secretary of State to make regulations fixing custody time limits?
s. 22 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985
What does s.22 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 do?
It empowers the Secretary of State to make regulations on custody time limits
What does s.22 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 empowers Secretary of state to do what?
make regulations on custody time limits
What does s.22 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 empowers Secretary of state to make regulations fixing what?
- maximum period available to prosecution to complete any preliminary stage of proceedings for an offence
- maximum period for which an accused may be kept in custody while awaiting completion of that stage
What is an ‘overall time-limit’ ?
time which the prosecution must complete the preliminary stage of proceedings for an offence
What is a ‘custody time-limit’?
time which accused may be remanded in custody while the prosecution complete preliminary stages of proceedings for an offence
What is the maximum time limit between first appearance in Magistrates’ court and committal to the Crown court?
70 days
What is the maximum time limit between first appearance and Summary trial?
Triable either- way = 70 days
Summary = 56 days
What is the maximum time limit between committal to the Crown court and trial on indictment?
112 days
What is the maximum time limit for multiple committals?
112 days (per offence)
What is the maximum time limit for retrial directed by the Court of Appeal?
112 days
What is the maximum time limit between first appearance and Summary trial for Summary only offence?
56 days
What is the maximum time limit between first appearance and Summary trial for triable either-way offence?
70 days
Where the accused while he/she waits for the time limits per stage?
In custody
What constitutes as multiple committal?
charged with two or more offences
What is the maximum time limit between accused sent to Crown court for trial and start of trial?
182 days
any period held by Magistrates’ court must be deducted
What must happen to the time limit between when accused is sent to Crown court for trial and Start of trial to ensure fairness?
Any period accused is held by Magistrates’ court must be deducted from the 182 days time limit
What happens if time limit expires before completion of stage of proceedings in question?
What is the accused subjected to?
What duty does the accused have?
accused must be granted bail (subject to duty to attend trial)
When must accused be granted bail concerning time limits?
If time limits expires before completion of of stage of proceedings in question
When can the court extend the time limits?
At any time before the expiry of a time-limit
True of False: no extensions to any time limits
False. Time limits can be extended at any time before expiry of a time limit
What are the two matters to be satisfied before the court can extend a time limit?
- Prosecution has acted with all due diligence and expedition
- there is ‘good and sufficient cause’ for doing so