Criminal Practice Flashcards
How long can access to legal advice be denied initially?
36 hours
Three occasions when formal identification procedure must be conducted
- a witness has identified or purported to identify the suspect
- a witness expresses an ability to identify a witness
- there is a reasonable chance of a witness being able to identify a suspect
What kind of offence is fraud?
Either way offence
Turnbull warnings relate to the identification of _____ but not ______.
People; objects
What kind of offence is robbery?
Indictable only
How soon is the preliminary Crown Court hearing for indictable only offence once sent by Magistrates’ Court?
14 days - if one of the conditions is met
When can the court refuse bail?
- it finds there is a real prospect of a custodial sentence handed down; and
- one of the exceptions to the right of bail applies
What kind of offence is criminal damage?
Either way offence
What kind of offence is ABH?
Either way offence
What kind of offence is battery?
Summary only
What kind of offence is assault?
Summary only
What evidence must the prosecution disclose?
- Evidence they intend to rely on in court;
- Any evidence that may undermine the prosecution’s case or assist the defendant’s case
What kind of offence is burglary?
Either way offence
What are the three main advantages of selecting the Magistrates’ Court?
- Limited sentencing power
- Faster trials and lower cost
- Less onerous disclosure requirements
Maximum sentence the Magistrates’ Court can hand down for single either way offence?
6 months
Which criminal court has higher conviction rates?
Magistrates’ Court
What kind of offence is theft?
Either way offence
Amount of ‘low value theft’?
up to £200
How court is chosen in ‘low value’ theft case?
Defendant can choose Crown Court or Magistrates’ but Magistrates cannot decline jurisdiction
(Treated as summary only offence from court’s perspective and either way offence from Defendant’s perspective)
Adverse inference can be drawn from what three scenarios?
- Defendant’s silence during police interview
- Defendant does not comment upon charge
- Defendant does not give evidence at trial
What kind of offence is arson?
Either way offence
What court(s) hear(s) either way offences?
Magistrates’ Court or Crown Court, depending on seriousness of case and defendant’s wishes
Where do ALL criminal cases begin?
Magistrates’ Court
Burden and standard of proof in criminal trial
Prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt
What does Magistrates’ Court do with indictable only offence at first hearing?
Send it straight to Crown Court
Maximum period of custody if all extension are granted – calculated from what moment?
96 hours (4 days) from arrival at police station (‘relevant time’)
Who bring the majority of criminal cases to court?
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
In addition to CPS, who else can bring criminal charges? (5)
Local authorities
Government agencies
private citizens
organizations
charities
What does acquittal mean?
Court cannot be sure the defendant did commit the offence
What does acquittal not mean?
The defendant is innocent
What is a summary only offence?
Lower level offence that can only be tried in the Magistrates’ Court
What is an indictable only offence?
Most serious offences that can only be tried in the Crown Court
What is an either way offence?
Offence that can be tried either in Magistrates’ Court or Crown Court, depending on seriousness and the defendant’s wishes
Who presides over the Magistrates’ Court
District Judges (DJs) and panel of 2-3 lay magistrates
Who presides over the Crown Court?
Crown Court Judge
The Crown Court Judge is tasked with deciding matters of _________ and the jury decides matters of _____________.
Law (ex. admissibility of evidence); fact
How many people make up the jury in the Crown Court?
12
Which court has higher rate of acquittal?
Crown Court
When would a summary only offence be heard in the Crown Court?
If it was charged together with a more serious offence that is being tried in the Crown Court
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) relates to ________
suspects rights when detained by the police
7 main rights of suspects under PACE
- free legal advice
- notify someone of their arrest
- right to inspect PACE
- right to silence
- to be informed of reason for arrest
- right to inspect documents related to arrest
- right to info related to detention time limits
Under what circumstances can access to legal advice at police station be delayed?
- suspect arrested on indictable only or either way offence
- police officer of rank of superintendent or higher has authorised in writing
- officer has reasonable grounds to believe that access to legal advice will lead to interference with evidence, interference with others, alerting other suspects, or hindering recovery of property
How long can access to legal advice be delayed?
36 hours
How long can a suspect’s right to inform someone of their arrest be delayed? And under what grounds?
36 hours; same as delay of legal advice but can be by rank of inspector (much lower rank)
General rule - maximum time a suspect can be kept in custody without being charged
24 hours from relevant time
What is ‘relevant time’ in context of how long a suspect can be kept in custory
When the suspect has entered the police station
What is the absolute maximum of time a person arrested for a summary only offence can be held without being charged?
24 hours - no extensions possible
First extension of custody time limit - how long?
12 hours
Which rank of police officer can authorize extension of custody time limit?
Superintendent or higher
On what grounds can detention be extended first time round?
- indictable only or either way offence
- officer has reasonable grounds for believing further detention is necessary to secure or preserve evidence or obtain evidence by questioning
- investigation is being conducted diligently and expeditiously
- by officer of rank of superintendent or above
Total maximum detention of person without charge if all extension are granted?
96 hours (i.e. 4 days) from ‘relevant time’
Second extension of custody time limit - how and how long?
By warrant from the Magistrates’ Court
36 hours on first application and another 24 hours on second application
Three scenarios when identification procedures MUST be held
- when a witness has identified or purported to identify a suspect
- when a witness expresses an ability to identify a suspect
- when there is a reasonable chance of a witness being able to identify a suspect
When is the identification procedure not necessary?
When the suspect is known to the witness - unless they have not seen each other in a long time
Rights of suspect related to identification procedure (3)
- to have purpose of procedure explained
- have free legal advice and to have solicitor/friend present
- have obligations and consequences explained - are not obligated to cooperate but may be raised at trial; if they change appearance, this may be raised at trial
4 types of identification procedures - which is most common?
- video identification (most common)
- identification parade - suspect and 8 others min
- group identification
- confrontation
What does the court consider when deciding whether to exclude or admit identification evidence that has been challenged (breach of Code)?
Whether the admission would have such an adverse effect on the fairness of the trial that it ought to be excluded
What is a custody record?
A log of a suspect’s time in detention at the police station
Interviews of suspects by police officers at the police station must be ________
recorded
Suspect’s legal representative can inspect ____ and obtain____ before interview but police are NOT required to disclose ______
the suspect’s custody record; sufficient information to help them understand nature of offence and reason detainee is under suspicion; evidence
If suspect fails to mention something in interview that they later rely on in court
Adverse inference may be drawn by court regarding why the defendant did not raise the matter when questioned
Suspects’ three options during police interview
- Answer questions and give full account
- decline to answer
- hand in written statement
What happens if police do not follow rules or give required cautions during interviews?
Evidence obtained in interview can be excluded from trial
When should a police officer give a special caution when interviewing a suspect? What is the special caution?
If defendant failed to account for their presence at the scene of the crime or of an object, substance, or mark found on the defendant at the time of arrest - the court can draw an adverse inference
Who is considered ‘vulnerable’ for police safeguarding?
Persons under 18 or suspects with mental disorders or other vulnerabilities
Important safeguard for vulnerable suspects
Access to an appropriate adult - should be someone NOT affiliated with the police. This person needs to be present at questioning (active participation required)
What constitutes ‘oppression’ during police interviews?
torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, use or threat of violence
What constitutes ‘inducement’ during police interviews?
Promise of a lower sentence; promise of anything in exchange for a confession
ONLY role of solicitor at police station
protect and advance the legal rights of their client in the face of the police investigation
What should a solicitor NOT do during a police interview?
tell the client what to say or answer on behalf of the client
If a solicitor obstructs an interview, which rank of police officer may remove them from the interview?
Superintendent
Who decides if a suspect should be remanded in custody or remanded on bail in the first instance?
The custody officer at the police station
What must the court give to the defendant if they refuse bail?
Certificate of full argument which states that court heard full argument on the application for bail before refusing
General presumption surrounding bail
presumption that defendant should be released on bail after appearing in Magistrates’ Court (EXCEPT homicide cases)