05 Disclosure of unused materials and defence statements Flashcards
TRUE OR FALSE: Disclosure of unused materials and defence statements is compulsory in cases sent to the Crown Court to be tried on Indictment?
TRUE
TRUE OR FALSE: Disclosure of unused materials and defence statements may also apply in summary trials including those in the youth court?
TRUE
What is the duty to record and retain material?
To whom is this duty imposed?
Investigators must record all material which may be relevant to the investigation
TRUE OR FALSE: Investigators’ duty to record material includes negative information?
What is meant by ‘negative information’
TRUE
negative information: eg. “they saw nothing”
TRUE OR FALSE: duty to record material does not include material which may be relevant only material which is?
FALSE.
Investigators also responsible for obtaining any information which may be relevant
Where must retained material be put which may be relevant but not believed to form part of the prosecution case?
must be put in a schedule
In which cases does an obligation to prepare a schedule arise for Magistrates’ and Crown Courts?
Magistrates’ Court: where accused is likely to plead Not Guilty
Crown Court: arises in all crown court cases
Who prepares a schedule?
disclosure officer
Which form is a schedule prepared?
MG6C
What happens In Magistrates’ Court where an accused is likely to plead Not Guilty ?
What is the name for this in Magistrates’ Court? / What is prepared when this is the case?
An obligation to prepare a schedule arises
A streamlined disclosure certificate
When can the Defence apply to the court for an order for disclosure?
Defence can apply to the court for an order for disclosure once the prosecution have complied with its duty of disclosure and the defence statement has been served
When can the Defence make an application under s.8 CIPA 1996?
What must the Defence do first?
if they have reasonable cause to believe that there is prosecution material which is properly disclosable but has not been disclosed
Defence must first serve a defence statement, not before
When does Prosecution’s duty of disclosure cease to exist in the Magistrates’ Court??
If Defendant pleads Guilt
TRUE OR FALSE: In order to get disclosure material from a third party, there is a requirement to apply to the court for an order before approaching the third party?
False. No such requirement
When does the prosecution’s disclosure duty finish?
Terminate with conviction, acquittal or discontinuation of proceedings
TRUE OR FALSE: Prosecution has a common law duty to continue to review unused material throughout
TRUE
When does the Prosecution’s continuing duty of disclosure apply?
Once the prosecutor has completed initial disclosure
TRUE OR FALSE: Prosecutor’s duty of continuing review may be triggered during the course of a trial?
TRUE
What should one do if disclosure of unused material will likely prejudice an important public interest?
make a public interest immunity application to the court
When should a prosecutor make a public interest immunity application to the court?
When the unused materials meet the disclosure test but may also cause prejudice to an important public interest
TRUE OR FALSE: Defence must serve a defence statement in the Magistrates’ court?
False, no obligation to serve a defence statement in the Magistrates’ court
Where the defence decide to serve a defence statement in the Magistrates’ court, when must they do this?
within 14 days
TRUE OR FALSE: No obligation for Defence to serve a defence statement in the Crown Court?
False. Must be served within 28 days
When must a defence statement be served in the Crown Court?
within 28 days
TRUE OR FALSE: Disclosure regime is compulsory in relation to cases heard before the adult Magistrates’ court?
Why?
False. The regime may apply but is not compulsory as there is no obligation on the defence to provide a defence
What details should be included in a defence statement if an alibi witness is mentioned?
Name, Address, DOB of the alibi witness
TRUE OR FALSE: Defence must include the alibi witness’ previous conviction sin the defence statement?
False, defence need not give this information