Criminal Procedure (Jersey)
Law 2018
part 1
interpretation and application
1 Interpretation
and application
(1) In this Law, unless the
context indicates otherwise –
“adjourn” means a decision by the court to suspend or
delay the hearing of criminal proceedings until another day;
“administration of the States” has the same meaning as
in Article 1 of the Employment of States of
Jersey Employees (Jersey) Law 2005;
“Assistant Magistrate” shall be construed in accordance
with Article 1 of Loi (1864) concernant la
charge de Juge d’Instruction;
“Bail Law” means the Criminal Procedure (Bail)
(Jersey) Law 2017;
“Bâtonnier” means the person elected under Article 33
of The Law Society of Jersey
Law 2005;
“Broadcasting Act” means the Broadcasting Act 1990
of the United Kingdom, as extended to Jersey by the Broadcasting Act 1990
(Jersey) Order 1991 and the Broadcasting Act 1990 (Jersey)
(No. 2) Order 1991;
“case management powers” shall be construed in
accordance with Article 9;
“child” means a person who has attained the age of
10 years and has not attained the age of 15 years;
“Commissioner” means a person appointed in accordance
with Article 10 of the Royal Court (Jersey)
Law 1948;
“community service order” shall be construed in
accordance with Article 4 of the Community Service Orders Law;
“Community Service Orders Law” means the Criminal Justice (Community
Service Orders) (Jersey) Law 2001;
“complainant” means the person against whom an offence
is alleged to have been committed;
“court” means the Magistrate’s Court (including
the Youth Court) or the Royal Court;
“Criminal Procedure Rules Committee” shall be construed
in accordance with Article 111;
“Criminal Procedure Rules” shall be construed in
accordance with Article 111(1) and 112;
“criminal proceedings” means proceedings before the
court for the determination of a case against a defendant, and relevant DPA
proceedings;
“Crown Advocate” means an advocate appointed under Article 1
of the Crown Advocates (Jersey)
Law 1987;
“defence” means the defendant or a person acting as his
or her legal representative;
“defendant” means a person –
(a) charged
with an offence; or
(b) convicted
of an offence and awaiting sentence;
“Deferred
Prosecution Agreements Law” means the Criminal Justice
(Deferred Prosecution Agreements) (Jersey) Law 2023;
“délégué” has the same meaning as
in the Probation Law;
“Greffier Substitute” means an officer of the Judicial
Greffe designated in accordance with Article 6 of the Departments of the Judiciary
and the Legislature (Jersey) Law 1965;
“incapacity” shall be construed in accordance with Article 55
of the Mental Health Law;
“indictment” means the document referred to in
Article 43(3) which formally specifies the offence with which a person is
charged and sets out the particulars of the offence;
“juror” means a person selected to serve on a jury in
accordance with Article 66;
“jury” shall be construed in accordance with Article 66;
“jury list” shall be construed in accordance with Article 64;
“Magistrate’s Court” includes the Youth Court;
“Mental Health Law” means the Mental Health (Jersey)
Law 2016;
“offence” includes an alleged offence;
“overriding objective” shall be construed in accordance
with Article 2;
“panel list” shall
be construed in accordance with Article 64;
“participant” and “party” in relation to
criminal proceedings means the prosecution, defence and any such other person
as the court may direct, or who otherwise appears to the court to participate
in the conduct of the proceedings;
“police officer” includes an officer of the Impôts
within the meaning of the Customs and Excise (Jersey) Law 1999;
“practice directions” shall be construed in accordance
with Article 113;
“prescribed” means prescribed by Criminal Procedure
Rules;
“proceedings” means criminal proceedings;
“programme service” has the same meaning as in the Broadcasting
Act;
“Probation Law” means the Loi
(1937) sur l’atténuation des peines et sur la mise en
liberté surveillée;
“probation order” means an order under Article 2 of
the Probation Law;
“publication” includes any speech, writing,
relevant programme or other communication in whatever form, which is addressed
to the public at large or any section of the public (and for this purpose every
relevant programme is to be taken to be so addressed), but does not include an
indictment or other document prepared for use in particular legal proceedings;
“relevant DPA proceedings”
means proceedings under Parts 2 and 3 of the Deferred Prosecution
Agreements Law;
“relevant programme” means a programme included in a
programme service, within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act;
“rules” means Criminal Procedure Rules, and
“rule” shall be construed accordingly;
“Solemn Affirmations Law” means the Solemn Affirmations (Jersey)
Law 1963;
“trial” means a hearing to determine criminal
proceedings and includes a retrial or a hearing, if required under Article 78,
to determine facts disputed;
“witness” in relation to criminal proceedings, means any
person called, or proposed to be called, to give evidence in the proceedings;
“young person” means a person who has attained the age
of 15 years and has not attained the age of 18 years;
“Young Offenders Law” means the Criminal Justice (Young
Offenders) (Jersey) Law 2014;
“Youth Court Panel” shall be construed in accordance
with paragraph 1 of the Schedule to the Young Offenders Law.[1]
(2) For the purposes of
this Law –
(a) “prosecution”
means –
(i) the
Attorney General,
(ii) a
prosecutor, or
(iii) except in relation to proceedings before the
Royal Court, or where a reference is made to “prosecution” in Parts 10
and 11, a Centenier;
(b) “prosecutor” –
(i) means an advocate
employed in the Law Officers’ Department authorized by the Attorney
General to undertake criminal proceedings on his or her behalf in the
Magistrate’s Court or Royal Court; or
(ii) means
a solicitor, or a person admitted –
(A) to the degree
of the Utter Bar of one of the Inns of Court of England and Wales,
(B) as
a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales,
(C) as a member of the Faculty of Advocates or as a Solicitor in
Scotland,
(D) at the
Bar of Northern Ireland or as a Solicitor of the Court of Judicature of
Northern Ireland, or
(E) at
the Bar of Guernsey,
employed in the Law Officers’ Department and authorized by the
Attorney General to undertake criminal proceedings on his or her behalf in the
Magistrate’s Court, and
(iii) includes
a Crown Advocate.
(3) References in this Law
to –
(a) “functions”
in relation to a person shall be construed as if they were references to any powers
or duties conferred on a person by or under an enactment, including this Law;
(b) “material”
are to material of all kinds, and in particular include references to –
(i) information, and
(ii) objects
of all descriptions.
(4) The expression
“enter a plea” in relation to a defendant means where he or she
pleads “guilty” or “not guilty” to committing an
offence.
(5) Where this Law requires
something to be done or to occur within 48 hours, in determining when the
period of 48 hours expires, there shall be disregarded Christmas Day, Good
Friday and any Sunday.
(6) Where bail is grantable
under any provision of this Law, the provisions of the Bail Law shall apply –
(a) unless
express provision is made to the contrary;
(b) unless
alternative or different provision is made by or under this Law; or
(c) subject
to any modifications to those provisions made by or under this Law.
(7) In relation to a
defendant within the meaning of the Mental Health Law, the provisions of this
Law shall, subject to the provisions of Parts 8 and 9 of the Mental Health
Law, apply in respect of such a defendant in criminal proceedings.
(8) Nothing in this Law
shall be taken to override the inherent jurisdiction of the Royal Court in
relation to criminal proceedings.
(9) The States may by
Regulations amend this Part.
part 2
the OVERRIDING objective
2 The
overriding objective of the Law
The overriding objective of this Law is to ensure that cases in
criminal proceedings are dealt with justly.
3 Implementation
of the overriding objective
(1) For the purposes of
satisfying the overriding objective, dealing with cases in criminal proceedings
“justly” includes –
(a) acquitting
the innocent and convicting the guilty;
(b) dealing
fairly with both the prosecution and the defence;
(c) recognizing
the rights of a defendant, particularly those rights granted under Article 6
of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to a fair trial);
(d) respecting
the interests of witnesses, victims and jurors and keeping them informed of the
progress of the case;
(e) dealing
with the case efficiently and expeditiously; and
(f) ensuring
that appropriate information is available to the court when bail or sentence is
being considered.
(2) Dealing with a case
justly also includes dealing with it in ways that take into
account –
(a) the
gravity of the alleged offence;
(b) the
complexity of what is in issue;
(c) the
severity of the consequences for the defendant and for others that are
affected;
(d) whether
the costs of the proceedings are proportionate having regard to the seriousness
of the offence; and
(e) the
needs of other cases.
4 Duties
of the participants in criminal proceedings
(1) A participant in
criminal proceedings must –
(a) prepare
and conduct the case in accordance with the overriding objective;
(b) comply
with the relevant procedures; and
(c) as
soon as is reasonably practicable, inform the court and all parties to the
proceedings if there is a significant failure (whether or not the
participant’s) to take a procedural step required by the relevant
procedures.
(2) For the purpose of paragraph (1) –
(a) relevant
procedures are the procedures prescribed by this Law, the Deferred Prosecution
Agreements Law, Criminal Procedure Rules or practice directions; and
(b) a
failure is significant if it might hinder the court in furthering the
overriding objective.[2]
5 The
application by the court of the overriding objective
The court must act to ensure the implementation of the overriding
objective when it –
(a) exercises a power given
to it by an enactment (including this Law);
(b) applies Criminal
Procedure Rules;
(c) applies a practice
direction; or
(d) interprets legislation
(including this Law), Criminal Procedure Rules or practice directions.
6 Regulations
amending Part 2
The States may by
Regulations amend this Part.
part 3
the active management of criminal proceedings
7 The
duty of the court
(1) The court must further
the overriding objective by actively managing cases in criminal proceedings.
(2) The active management
of cases in criminal proceedings includes –
(a) the early
identification of the key issues;
(b) the
early identification of the needs of witnesses;
(c) achieving
certainty as to what must be done, by whom, and when, in particular by the
early setting of a timetable for the progress of the case;
(d) monitoring
the progress of the case and compliance with any directions given by the court;
(e) ensuring
that evidence, whether disputed or not, is presented in the shortest and
clearest way;
(f) discouraging
delay, dealing with as many aspects of the case as possible on the same
occasion, and avoiding unnecessary hearings;
(g) encouraging
the participants to co-operate in the progression of the case; and
(h) making
use of technology.
8 The
duty of the parties
(1) Each party
must –
(a) actively
assist the court in fulfilling its duty under Article 7; and
(b) apply
for a direction if needed to further the overriding objective.
(2) Active assistance for
the purposes of this Article includes –
(a) communication
between the prosecution and the defence at the first available opportunity, and
in any event no later than the beginning of the day of the first hearing;
(b) ongoing
communication between the parties and with the court until the conclusion of
the case;
(c) by
such communication establishing, among other things –
(i) whether the
defendant is likely to plead guilty or not guilty,
(ii) what
is agreed and what is likely to be disputed,
(iii) what
information, or other material, is required by one party of another, and why,
and
(iv) what
is to be done, by whom, and when (without, or if necessary with, a direction); and
(d) reporting
on that communication to the court –
(i) at the first
hearing, and
(ii) after
that, as directed by the court.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a),
the expression “first available opportunity” includes as soon as a
person is –
(a) charged;
(b) summoned;
or
(c) notified
by the Attorney General that criminal proceedings have, under Article 14,
been initiated in respect of that person.
9 The
court’s case management powers
(1) In fulfilling its duty
under Article 7 the court may give any direction and take any step
actively to manage a case unless that direction or step would be inconsistent
with any rule made under this Law or provision of this Law or other enactment.
(2) In particular, the
court may –
(a) give
a direction on its own initiative or on application by a party;
(b) ask
or allow a party to propose a direction;
(c) for the purpose of giving directions, receive applications and
representations by letter, by telephone or by any other means of electronic
communication, and conduct a hearing by such means;
(d) give
a direction –
(i) at a hearing, in
public or in private, or
(ii) without
a hearing;
(e) fix,
postpone, bring forward, extend, cancel or adjourn a hearing;
(f) shorten
or extend (even after it has expired) a time limit fixed by a direction
(including a practice direction) or Criminal Procedure Rules;
(g) require
that issues in the case should be –
(i) identified in
writing, and
(ii) determined
separately;
(h) decide
in what order the issues will be determined; and
(i) specify
the consequences of failing to comply with a direction.
(3) The Magistrate’s
Court may give a direction that will apply in the Royal Court if the case is to
continue there.
(4) The Royal Court may
give a direction that will apply in the Magistrate’s Court if the case is
to continue there.
(5) Any power to give a
direction includes a power to vary or revoke that direction.
(6) Unless the Royal Court
directs otherwise, the Magistrate’s Court may vary or revoke a direction
given by the Royal Court under paragraph (4).
(7) The Royal Court may
vary or revoke a direction given by the Magistrate’s Court under
paragraph (3).
(8) If a party fails to
comply with a direction or rule, the court may –
(a) fix, postpone, bring forward, extend, cancel or adjourn a hearing;
(b) exercise its powers to make an order as to the payment of costs;
and
(c) impose such other sanction as may be appropriate, including such
sanction as may be specified under any enactment including this Law.
10 Hearings
and adjournments
(1) Where the
Magistrate’s Court adjourns a hearing in the exercise of case management
powers, or under any other provisions of this Law regardless of whether or not
the defendant has legal representation, that hearing shall be adjourned for a
period not exceeding 30 days.
(2) Where the Royal Court
adjourns a hearing in the exercise of case management powers or under any other
provisions of this Law and the defendant has no legal representation, that
hearing shall be adjourned for a period not exceeding –
(a) 42 days
in respect of a defendant in custody; and
(b) 60 days
in respect of a defendant on bail.
(3) Subject to Articles 87
and 88, the court may, in the exercise of case management powers, direct that
any hearing may be held in the absence of a defendant provided that absence
does not conflict with the overriding objective.
(4) The court may grant a
defendant bail for the period of any adjournment.
(5) An order by the court
for proceedings to be “left on file” as referred to in Article 81(2)
shall not be taken to be an adjournment for the purposes of this Article.
11 Regulations
amending Part 3
The States may by
Regulations amend this Part.
part 4
Role of the Attorney general
12 Role
of the Attorney General in prosecution of criminal proceedings
Without prejudice to the powers reserved to a Centenier under Article 3(2)
of the Honorary Police (Jersey)
Law 1974, the prosecution of criminal proceedings may only be conducted by
or on behalf of the Attorney General.
13 Consent
of the Attorney General before commencing criminal proceedings
(1) This Article applies if
a provision of an enactment or rule of customary law requires the consent of
the Attorney General before criminal proceedings may be initiated.
(2) The Attorney
General’s consent must be in writing and shall, in so far as is
practicable, be given before –
(a) a
person is charged with an offence;
(b) a
person is summoned to appear before the Magistrate’s Court under Article 19;
or
(c) the
initiation of proceedings in the Royal Court under Article 14.[3]
(3) If it is not
practicable for consent to be given in accordance with paragraph (2), it
must in any event be given before the person’s first appearance before
the court.
(4) If, notwithstanding
paragraph (3), consent has not been given by the time of the
person’s first appearance, or it appears to the court that the consent
has been defectively given, the court may nevertheless authorize the case to
proceed pending receipt of the Attorney General’s consent or properly
given consent, as the case may be.
(5) The Attorney General
may delegate the giving of his or her consent to such prosecutor as the
Attorney General may, from time to time, designate in writing.
(6) The States may, by
Regulations, amend any enactment (including this Law) for the purpose of
removing any provision requiring the consent of the Attorney General before
criminal proceedings may be initiated.
14 Attorney
General’s power to initiate proceedings directly in the Royal Court
(1) The Attorney General
may, if he or she considers it justified, directly initiate criminal
proceedings in the Royal Court in respect of a person who is to be indicted and
Article 43 applies for the purpose of initiating proceedings.
(1A) Where Article 6(2) of the Deferred
Prosecution Agreements Law applies, the Attorney General must –
(a) directly
initiate proceedings in the Royal Court in respect of a person who is to be
indicted, and Article 43 applies for the purposes of initiating proceedings;
and
(b) as
soon as proceedings have been initiated, give notice that the Attorney General
wishes the proceedings in relation to the offence specified in the indictment
to be suspended to enable the Attorney General and the defendant to enter into
a deferred prosecution agreement in relation to the offence.[4]
(1B) Where a notice is given under paragraph (1A)(b) –
(a) proceedings
in respect of the offence are suspended with immediate effect; and
(b) the
court must record that the proceedings are suspended.[5]
(2) Paragraphs (1) and
(2) apply notwithstanding any other provisions of this Law or any other
enactment or rule of customary law which require the initiation of criminal
proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court.[6]
(3) The Attorney General
shall summons the person referred to in paragraph (1) to appear before the
Royal Court at the time, and on the date notified in the summons, to answer the
indictment referred to in Article 43.
(3A) Where the Attorney General has been
granted leave of the court under Article 81A(1) to progress proceedings,
the Attorney General must summons the person referred to in paragraph (1A)
to appear before the Royal Court at the time, and on the date notified in the
summons, to answer the indictment referred to in Article 43.[7]
(4) Such summons shall
contain a statement setting out the following particulars –
(a) the
specific offence with which the person is charged;
(b) a
short description of the offence in ordinary language, avoiding as far as possible
the use of technical terms and without necessarily stating all the essential
elements of the offence; and
(c) if
the offence charged is one created under an enactment, a reference to the
provision of the enactment creating the offence.
(5) If it appears to the
Attorney General that the person will fail to comply with the summons, the
Attorney General may apply to the Bailiff for an order to arrest that person.
(6) The Bailiff may, upon
proof of service of the summons, order the person to be arrested and brought
before the Royal Court to answer the indictment.
(7) Unless the Bailiff
grants the person bail under Article 77(2), an order under paragraph (6)
authorizes every police officer or the Viscount to arrest and detain the person
to whom the order relates and to bring him or her before the Royal Court within
48 hours of his or her arrest.
(8) In
paragraph (1A)(b), “deferred prosecution agreement” has the
meaning given in Article 2(1) of the Deferred Prosecution Agreements Law.[8]
(9) Criminal Procedure
Rules may make provision as to the form, content and service of a notice given
under paragraph (1A)(b).[9]
Part 5
functions and jurisdiction of the magistrate
15 Jurisdiction of Magistrate
(1) The Magistrate may
exercise the powers given under this Article subject to –
(a) the
provisions of Parts 2, 3, 6, 10, 11 and 12;
(b) the
maximum penalties which he or she may impose under Article 16; and
(c) the
provisions of the Young Offenders Law.
(2) The Magistrate may sit
at any time and in any place, and shall have the power to –
(a) hear
and determine all criminal proceedings, including proceedings to determine
matters ancillary to such criminal proceedings; and
(b) determine
whether to remand a defendant into custody or release him or her from the
custody of the Magistrate’s Court on bail.
16 Maximum
penalties which may be imposed by Magistrate
(1) Subject to
paragraph (2), the maximum penalties which may be imposed by the
Magistrate are –
(a) a
fine of £10,000;
(b) imprisonment
for a term of 12 months; or
(c) both
a fine of £10,000 and imprisonment for a term of 12 months.
(2) If the Magistrate
passes a sentence of imprisonment on a defendant, the Magistrate may order that
the sentence shall commence at the expiration of any other term of imprisonment
to which that defendant has been previously sentenced.
(3) If a defendant is
convicted of more than one offence, the aggregate of the fines or terms of
imprisonment imposed by the Magistrate in respect of those offences shall not
exceed the maximum fine or term of imprisonment which the Magistrate is
empowered by this Article to impose.
(4) The States may, by
Regulations, amend the penalties listed in paragraph (1).
Part 6
proceedings in the Magistrate’s court
17 Application
of Part 6
This Part applies in respect of criminal proceedings before the
Magistrate’s Court and appeals to the Royal Court against a decision of
the Magistrate’s Court.
18 Interpretation of Part 6
(1) In this Part –
“appellant” means a defendant who has a right of appeal
to the Royal Court under Article 33;
“designated police station” shall be construed in
accordance with Code C, A Code of Practice for the Detention, Treatment
and Questioning of Persons by Police Officers, set out in the Schedule to the Police Procedures and
Criminal Evidence (Codes of Practice) (Jersey) Order 2004;
“prison” has the meaning given in Article 1(1) of
the Prison (Jersey) Law 1957;
“Royal Court” means the Inferior Number of the Royal
Court.
(2) In Articles 31, 33
and 34 “order” means –
(a) a
community service order;
(b) a
probation order; or
(c) an
order for the payment of costs.
19 Summons
(1) This
Article applies to a person who is to be charged with an offence and liable to
arrest.
(2) A
person to whom this Article applies may, instead of being arrested, be summoned
by the Attorney General or, with his or her approval, a prosecutor or a
Centenier, to appear before the Magistrate’s Court at the time, and on
the date notified in the summons.
(3) Such
summons shall contain a statement setting out the following –
(a) the
specific offence with which the person is to be charged including such
particulars as may be necessary for giving reasonable information as to the
nature of the charge;
(b) a
short description of the offence in ordinary language, avoiding as far as
possible the use of technical terms and without necessarily stating all the essential
elements of the offence; and
(c) if
the offence to be charged is one created under an enactment, a reference to the
provision of the enactment creating the offence.
20 Failure
to comply with summons
(1) If
a person summoned, under Article 19, to appear before the
Magistrate’s Court fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the
summons, the Court may, upon proof of the service of the summons, order the
person’s arrest.
(2) An
order under paragraph (1) authorizes every police officer or the Viscount to
arrest and detain the person to whom the order relates and to bring that person
before the Magistrate’s Court.
(3) Unless
the Magistrate grants the person bail under Article 77(2), a person arrested
and detained under this Article, shall be brought before the Magistrate’s
Court within 48 hours of his or her arrest.
(4) Subject
to Article 10(3), the Magistrate may determine a case in the absence of a
person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with his or her summons.
21 Offence
of failing to comply with summons
(1) A
person summoned under Article 19 to appear before the Magistrate’s Court
who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with that summons is guilty of
an offence.
(2) It
shall be for the person to prove that he or she had a reasonable excuse for his
or her failure to comply with the summons.
(3) A
person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be tried summarily and liable
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months and to a fine.[10]
22 Error
in summons
(1) No
objection shall be made to a summons issued under Article 19 on the ground
that –
(a) the
summons is defective in substance or form; or
(b) there
is a variation between the summons and the evidence adduced by or on behalf of
the prosecution.
(2) But,
if it appears to the Magistrate that –
(a) there
is a variation between the summons and the evidence adduced; and
(b) the
variation has misled the person summoned,
the Magistrate shall exercise such case management powers as he or
she sees fit.
23 Procedure
on first appearance
(1) When
a defendant first appears before the Magistrate’s Court –
(a) the
defendant shall be identified as the person charged with the offence;
(b) the
particulars of the offence with which the defendant is charged, shall be read
out by the Centenier, or with the Centenier’s agreement, a prosecutor;
and
(c) subject
to paragraph (3), the defendant shall be asked to enter a plea.
(2) If
the defendant does not enter a plea, whether at a first appearance or at any
subsequent stage of the proceedings, the defendant shall be taken to have
pleaded “not guilty”.
(3) The
Magistrate may direct that the defendant need not enter a plea.
24 Amendment
of details of offence and further or alternative offences
(1) This Article applies
once the particulars of the offence have been read out.
(2) Immediately thereafter
or at any subsequent stage of the proceedings, the prosecution may –
(a) amend
the particulars of the offence;
(b) substitute
the offence; or
(c) add a
new or an alternative offence.
(3) The particulars of the
amended, substituted, additional or alternative offence, as the case may be, shall
be read out and the defendant asked to enter a plea in respect of that offence.
25 Magistrate’s determination as to sentencing venue –
guilty plea
(1) Where a defendant has
entered a guilty plea, the Magistrate must, in accordance with this Article,
decide whether the case should proceed for sentencing in the Magistrate’s
Court or the Royal Court.
(2) The Magistrate’s
Court shall record the defendant as convicted of the offence in respect of
which he or she has entered a guilty plea.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4),
if it appears to the Magistrate that –
(a) the
gravity of the offence would require the imposition of a penalty in excess of
any penalty imposable under Article 16, the Magistrate shall send the
defendant to the Royal Court for sentencing;
(b) the
gravity of the offence would not require the imposition of a penalty in excess
of any imposable under Article 16, the Magistrate shall determine that the
case should proceed for sentencing in the Magistrate’s court; or
(c) notwithstanding that the gravity of the
offence –
(i) would not require
the imposition of a penalty in excess of any imposable under Article 16, but
(ii) it
would nevertheless be in the interests of justice to do so,
the Magistrate shall send the defendant to the Royal Court for sentencing.
(4) Before making a
decision under paragraph (3), the Magistrate must –
(a) hear
any representations by or on behalf of the prosecutor and defendant; and
(b) have
regard to all the circumstances of the case including any matters as may appear
to be relevant and the defendant’s previous convictions, if any.
26 Magistrate’s
determination as to trial venue – not guilty plea
(1) Where a defendant has
entered a not guilty plea, the Magistrate must, in accordance with this
Article, decide whether the case should proceed for trial in the
Magistrate’s Court or the Royal Court.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3),
if it appears to the Magistrate that –
(a) the gravity of the offence, if the defendant
were to be found guilty, would require the imposition of a penalty in excess of
any penalty imposable under Article 16, the Magistrate shall send the
defendant to the Royal Court for trial;
(b) the gravity of the offence, if the defendant
were to be found guilty, would not require the imposition of a penalty in
excess of any imposable under Article 16, the Magistrate shall determine
that the case should proceed for trial in the Magistrate’s court; or
(c) notwithstanding that the gravity of the
offence, if the defendant were to be found guilty –
(i) would not require
the imposition of a penalty in excess of any imposable under Article 16,
but
(ii) it
would nevertheless be in the interests of justice to do so,
the
Magistrate shall send the defendant to the Royal Court for trial.
(3) Before making a decision
under paragraph (2), the Magistrate must –
(a) hear any representations by or on behalf of
the prosecutor and defendant;
(b) have regard to all the circumstances of the
case including any matters as may appear to be relevant.
(4) If, following a determination
under paragraph (2)(b), information emerges to show that the gravity of
the offence, if the defendant were to be found guilty, would require the
imposition of a penalty in excess of any penalty imposable under Article 16,
the Magistrate shall send the defendant to the Royal Court for trial instead.
27 Magistrate’s
determination as to sentencing venue following trial
(1) If, following a
defendant’s trial, the Magistrate finds the defendant guilty and, subject
to paragraph (2), it appears that –
(a) the gravity of the offence would require the
imposition of a penalty in excess of any penalty imposable under Article 16,
the Magistrate shall send the defendant to the Royal Court for sentencing; or
(b) notwithstanding that the gravity of the
offence –
(i) would not require
the imposition of a penalty in excess of any imposable under Article 16, but
(ii) it
would nevertheless be in the interests of justice to do so,
the Magistrate shall send the defendant to the Royal Court for
sentencing.
(2) Before making a
decision under paragraph (1), the Magistrate must –
(a) hear any representations by or on behalf of
the prosecutor and defendant; and
(b) have regard to all the circumstances of the
case including any matters as may appear to be relevant including the
defendant’s previous convictions, if any.
28 Magistrate’s
directions in respect of cases sent to the Royal Court
(1) If the Magistrate
decides to send a defendant to the Royal Court for sentencing under
Article 25 or 27, or trial under Article 26, the Magistrate shall
adjourn the case and –
(a) if it is practicable to do so, direct that a
date is set for the first hearing of that case before the Royal Court; or
(b) make such other direction in the exercise of
case management powers as are required.
(2) This paragraph applies
where, at any time up to (but not including) the date set for the first hearing
of the defendant’s case before the Royal Court, it appears to the
Magistrate that information has emerged to show that it would be appropriate, after
all, for the defendant to be sentenced or tried (as the case may be) in the
Magistrate’s Court.
(3) Where paragraph (2)
applies, the Magistrate may direct that the defendant’s case is remitted
to the Magistrate’s Court for sentencing or trial (as the case may be).
29 Magistrate’s
determination as to sentencing or trial venue – unconnected offences
(1) This Article applies
where a defendant is charged with more than one offence and the offences are
not connected with each other.
(2) The Magistrate may
direct that any unconnected offences should be considered at the same hearing
for the purposes of making a decision under any of Articles 25 to 27.
(3) If –
(a) the Magistrate decides to send a defendant
to the Royal Court for sentencing or trial in relation to one offence; and
(b) notwithstanding that it appears to the
Magistrate that the gravity of another unconnected offence is such as would not
require the imposition of a penalty in excess of any maximum penalty imposable
under Article 16, it would be in the interests of justice to do so,
the Magistrate may direct that the defendant is also sent to the
Royal Court for sentencing or trial in relation to that other unconnected
offence.
(4) In this Article and
Article 30, in relation to offences, references to “connected”
means offences which are connected by reason of being founded on the same
facts, or form or are part of a series of offences of the same or similar
character, and references to “unconnected” in relation to offences
shall be construed accordingly.
30 Magistrate’s
determination as to sentencing or trial venue – multiple defendants,
including child or young person
(1) This Article applies
where the Magistrate is to make a decision under any of Articles 25 to 27
in respect of more than one defendant charged with offences which appear to be
connected.
(2) If the Magistrate
considers the offences to be sufficiently connected, a decision taken under any
of Articles 25 to 27 shall be taken having regard to the general principle
that it is desirable for defendants charged with connected offences to be tried
or sentenced together in the Magistrate’s Court or Royal Court, as the
case may be.
(3) This paragraph applies
where, pursuant to Article 26(1)(a) or (b) of the Young Offenders Law, a
child or young person appears before the Magistrate’s Court
and –
(a) pleads not guilty to committing a connected
offence; and
(b) another defendant (who has attained the age
of 18), with whom the child or young person is jointly charged with
committing a connected offence, is to be sent to the Royal Court for sentencing
or trial, as the case may be.
(4) Where paragraph (3)
applies, the Magistrate shall direct that the child or young person is tried in
the Youth Court unless –
(a) it appears to the Magistrate that if the
child or young person were to be found guilty, the gravity of the offence would
require the imposition of an order or sentence in excess of any order or
sentence imposable by the Youth Court; or
(b) it is in the interests of justice that the
child or young person and the other defendant are jointly sentenced or tried,
as the case may be,
in which case the Magistrate shall send the child or young person to
the Royal Court for trial.
31 Magistrate’s
power to rectify mistakes
(1) Subject to
paragraph (3), the Magistrate may, within 28 days of passing a
sentence or making an order in respect of a defendant, amend or rescind that
sentence or order, if it appears to the Magistrate that it would further the
overriding objective to do so.
(2) The power of the
Magistrate under paragraph (1) includes the power –
(a) to replace a sentence or order that appears
to the Magistrate to be invalid with a sentence or order that the Magistrate
has the power to impose or make; or
(b) provided no injustice would be caused, to
correct errors which have resulted in a defendant having pleaded guilty to, or
been convicted of, an incorrectly charged offence.
(3) The Magistrate may, in
exceptional circumstances, amend or rescind a sentence or order under paragraph (1)
after the 28 day period has expired.
(4) If the Magistrate amends
a sentence or order, the amended sentence or order takes effect from the time
the original sentence or order took effect unless the Magistrate otherwise
directs.
32 Proceedings
in Royal Court remitted to Magistrate’s Court
(1) This Article applies
where, under Article 47, the Royal Court remits a case to the
Magistrate’s Court.
(2) The Magistrate’s
Court shall proceed to sentence or try the defendant as if the defendant had
never been sent to the Royal Court for sentencing or trial in the first
instance.
33 Right
of appeal
(1) A defendant convicted
by the Magistrate’s Court may appeal to the Royal Court in the
circumstances set out in paragraph (2).
(2) If the defendant –
(a) pleaded guilty or admitted the facts, he or
she may appeal against the sentence or order;
(b) pleaded not guilty, he or she may appeal
against the conviction, sentence or order; or
(c) pleaded not guilty and was sent to the Royal
Court for sentencing under Article 27, he or she may appeal against the
conviction.
34 Notice
of appeal
(1) An appeal under Article 33
shall be commenced by the appellant giving notice of appeal to the Judicial
Greffier not more than 7 days after the day on which the appellant was convicted,
sentenced or the order was made.
(2) A notice of appeal
shall be in writing and shall state the general grounds of appeal.
(3) Where it appears to the
Royal Court, on application made in accordance with paragraph (4), that an
appellant has failed to give the notice of appeal within the period of 7 days
prescribed by paragraph (1), the Royal Court may, if it thinks fit, direct
that –
(a) any such notice of appeal given by the
appellant after the expiration of the said 7 day period shall be treated
as if given within that period; or
(b) any such notice of appeal may be given by
the appellant within such further period as may be specified in the direction
and shall be treated as if given within the said 7 day period.
(4) An application for a
direction under paragraph (3) shall be made in writing to the Judicial
Greffier.
(5) In determining when the
7 day expires, there shall be disregarded Christmas Day, Good Friday and
any Bank Holiday.
35 Abandonment
of appeal
(1) An appellant may
abandon an appeal under Article 33 by giving notice in writing to the
Judicial Greffier, not later than the 3rd working day before the day fixed for
the hearing of the appeal.
(2) An appellant who has
not given notice by the day mentioned in paragraph (1) may apply at any
time up to, and including the day before the day fixed for the hearing of the
appeal, to the Royal Court for leave to abandon his or her appeal.
(3) Where notice to abandon
an appeal has been given under paragraph (1) –
(a) subject to anything already suffered or done
by the appellant under the decision from which the appeal is made, such
decision shall be enforceable forthwith by due process of law;
(b) the Magistrate’s Court may, on the
application of the prosecutor, order the appellant to pay to the prosecutor
such costs as appear to the Magistrate’s Court to be just and reasonable
in respect of expenses properly incurred by the prosecutor in connection with
the appeal before notice of the abandonment was given.
(4) Criminal Procedure
Rules may make provision as to the hearing of an application under paragraph (3)(b).
36 Determination
of appeals
(1) On any appeal under
Article 33, the Royal Court may –
(a) confirm, reverse or vary the decision of the
Magistrate’s Court;
(b) remit the matter to the Magistrate’s
Court with its opinion;
(c) make such other order as it thinks just, and
may by such order exercise any power which the Magistrate’s Court might
have exercised.
(2) Any order made under
paragraph (1)(c) shall have the like effect and may be enforced in like
manner as if it had been made by the Magistrate’s Court.
(3) The powers of the Royal
Court under paragraph (1) shall be construed as including power to impose
any penalty, whether more or less severe than that imposed by the Magistrate or
which the Magistrate could have imposed under Article 16.
(4) If, at any stage of the
proceedings, the Royal Court is of opinion that the appeal is frivolous or
vexatious or brought for the purpose of delay, it may forthwith dismiss the
appeal.
(5) The Royal Court may –
(a) direct that witnesses shall be heard before
it at the hearing of any appeal under Article 33 in relation to any matter
or thing relevant to the appeal; or
(b) require the production of a transcript of
the trial.
(6) On any appeal under
Article 33 –
(a) if the appeal is successful, the Royal Court
may order the payment out of public funds of such sums as appear to the Court
reasonably sufficient to compensate the appellant for any expenses properly
incurred –
(i) in the prosecution
of the appeal, and
(ii) in
the proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court; or
(b) if the appeal is unsuccessful, the Royal
Court may order the appellant to pay the whole or any part of the costs of the
appeal.
37 Application
to Magistrate to state a case
(1) Subject to
paragraph (2), any party who is aggrieved by the conviction, order,
determination or other proceeding of the Magistrate’s Court may question
the proceeding on the ground that it is wrong in law or is in excess of
jurisdiction, by applying to the Magistrate to state a case for the opinion of
the Royal Court on the question of law or jurisdiction involved.
(2) A party shall not make
an application under this Article in respect of a decision which by virtue of
any enactment is final.
(3) An application under paragraph (1)
shall be made not later than 7 days after the day on which the decision of
the Magistrate’s Court was given.
(4) If a defendant has a
right of appeal under Article 33 but makes an application under this Article,
he or she shall no longer have a right of appeal under Article 33.
(5) If the Magistrate is of
opinion that an application under this Article is frivolous, the Magistrate may
refuse to state a case and, if the applicant so requires, shall give the
applicant a certificate stating that the application has been refused.
(6) The Magistrate shall
not refuse to state a case if the application is made by or under the direction
of the Attorney General.
(7) Where the Magistrate
refuses to state a case, the Royal Court may, on the application of the party
who applied for the case to be stated, make an order requiring the Magistrate
to state a case and it shall be the duty of the Magistrate to comply with the order.
(8) For the purposes of an
application under this Article, “order” means” –
(a) any order of the
Magistrate in the exercise of case management powers;
(b) a community service
order;
(c) a probation order;
(d) an order for the
payment of costs; or
(e) an order made under any
enactment in respect of which the Magistrate has no discretion as to the making
of the order or its terms.
38 Royal
Court determination of a case stated
(1) Where the Magistrate
states a case under Article 37, the Royal Court shall hear and determine
the question or questions of law arising on the case and may –
(a) reverse, affirm or
amend the determination in respect of which the case has been stated;
(b) remit the matter to the
Magistrate’s Court, with its opinion thereon; or
(c) make such other order
in relation to the matter, including such order as to costs, as may seem fit.
(2) The Royal Court shall
also have power, if it thinks fit, to cause the case to be remitted to the
Magistrate’s Court for amendment upon which the case shall be amended accordingly,
and judgment delivered.
(3) Any conviction, order,
determination or other proceeding of the Magistrate’s Court varied by the
Royal Court under this Article, and any judgment or order of the Royal Court under
this Article, may be enforced as if it were a decision of the Magistrate’s
Court.
39 Bail on appeal or case stated
(1) This Article applies
where a defendant has given notice of appeal under Article 34 or has
applied for a case to be stated under Article 37.
(2) Where this Article applies,
the defendant may be granted bail but the right of a defendant to be granted
bail under Article 7(2) of the Bail Law shall not apply.
(3) A defendant granted
bail under this Article must immediately surrender himself or herself to the
custody of a police officer or the Viscount, if he or she subsequently wishes
to abandon his or her –
(a) appeal in accordance
with Article 35;
(b) appeal after the appeal
proceedings have commenced in the Royal Court; or
(c) application to the
Magistrate to state a case.
(4) A defendant who,
without reasonable excuse, fails to surrender himself or herself as required
under paragraph (3) shall –
(a) be guilty of an offence
and shall be convicted summarily and liable to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 12 months and to a fine; and
(b) be required to pay the
costs of the prosecution.
(5) The Magistrate or Royal
Court, as the case may be, may order the arrest of a defendant who, without
reasonable excuse, fails to surrender himself or herself as required under paragraph (3).
(6) An order under
paragraph (5) authorizes every police officer or the Viscount to arrest
and detain the defendant to whom the order relates, and to place him or her in
custody at the designated police station pending the defendant’s transfer
to prison.
(7) Article 77 shall
not apply for the purposes of an order under paragraph (5).
40 Operation
of certain orders pending appeal or case stated
Where notice of appeal is given under Article 34, or an
application for a case to be stated is made under Article 37, in respect
of a decision which includes either of the following –
(a) an order the effect of
which is to suspend or withdraw a licence or other permit, the Magistrate may,
unless otherwise provided by the enactment under which the licence or permit
was granted, direct that the order be stayed pending the disposal of the appeal
or application;
(b) an order for the
confiscation of goods, the goods shall be confiscated pending the disposal of
the appeal or application.
41 Miscellaneous
provisions
(1) Any appeal or application
under this Part may be heard and determined by the Royal Court either in term
or in vacation.
(2) Any judgment or order
of the Royal Court under this Part shall be final and conclusive.
(3) Costs ordered to be
paid under this Part to the prosecution shall be enforced as a civil debt
without further order of the Court.
(4) Costs ordered to be
paid under this Part shall be subject to such rates or scales of payment of any
costs payable out of public funds or by the defendant as are provided for by
Regulations made under Article 6 of the Costs in Criminal Cases
(Jersey) Law 1961.[11]
Part 7
proceedings in the royal court
42 Application
of Part 7
This Part applies in respect of criminal proceedings before the
Royal Court.
43 Notice of
proceedings and lodging of indictment
(1) In
the case of a defendant who has been sent by the Magistrate’s Court to
the Royal Court for sentencing or trial, as the case may be, that defendant
shall first appear before the Royal Court –
(a) on
the date directed by the Magistrate under Article 28(1)(a); or
(b) on
such date as may otherwise be directed by the Royal Court.
(2) Where
paragraph (1)(b) applies, the Royal Court shall give the parties
7 days, or more, notice of the hearing date.
(3) The
Attorney General must, in relation to a defendant –
(a) who
has been sent by the Magistrate’s Court to the Royal Court for sentencing
or trial, as the case may be;
(b) in
respect of whom the Attorney General has decided to initiate criminal
proceedings in the Royal Court under Article 14(1); or
(c) in
respect of whom the Attorney General has initiated criminal proceedings in the
Royal Court under Article 14(1A),
prepare an indictment in
the prescribed form, sign and lodge it with the Judicial Greffier and serve a
copy of it upon the defendant.[12]
(4) Where
paragraph (3)(a) applies and subject to paragraph (5), the indictment
must be lodged and served 48 hours, or more, before the date directed for
the defendant’s first appearance before the Royal Court.
(5) The
period referred to in paragraph (4) shall not apply if the Attorney
General notifies the Royal Court as soon as practicable before the date
directed for the defendant’s first appearance that the indictment is not
ready for lodging.
(6) Where
paragraph (5) applies, the Royal Court may, for the purposes of securing
the lodging of the indictment, make such order or directions it sees fit.
(7) Where
paragraph (3)(b) applies, the time for lodging the indictment shall be
prescribed.
(8) Where
paragraph (3)(c) applies, the indictment must be lodged and served as soon
as is reasonably practicable.[13]
44 Failure to attend
first appearance
(1) Subject
to paragraph (3), the Royal Court may order the arrest of a defendant who,
without reasonable excuse, fails to attend before the Court for his or her first
appearance in accordance with any directions given under Article 28(1)(a)
or 43(1)(b), or summons under Article 14(3) or (3A).[14]
(2) An
order under paragraph (1) authorizes every police officer or the Viscount
to arrest and detain the defendant to whom the order relates and to bring him or
her before the Royal Court.
(3) Unless
the Royal Court grants the defendant bail under Article 77(2), a defendant
arrested and detained under this Article, shall be brought before the Royal Court
not later than 48 hours commencing with the time of his or her arrest.
(4) A
defendant who, without reasonable excuse, fails to attend before the Royal
Court for his or her first appearance is guilty of an offence.
(5) It
shall be for the defendant to prove that he or she had a reasonable excuse for
his or her failure to attend the Royal Court.
(6) A
defendant guilty of an offence under this Article shall be convicted summarily
and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months and to a
fine.
45 Procedure on first appearance
(1) Where
a defendant has been sent by the Magistrate’s Court to the Royal Court
for trial or appears before that Court pursuant to Article 14, paragraphs (2)
and (3) shall apply.
(2) When
a defendant mentioned in paragraph (1) first appears before the Royal Court –
(a) the
defendant shall be identified as the person charged with the offence;
(b) the
contents of the indictment shall be read out; and
(c) subject
to paragraph (4), the defendant shall be asked to enter a plea.
(3) If
the defendant does not enter a plea, whether at a first appearance or at any
subsequent stage of the proceedings, the defendant shall be taken to have
pleaded “not guilty”.
(4) The
Bailiff may direct that the defendant need not enter a plea.
(5) Where
a defendant has been sent by the Magistrate’s Court to the Royal Court
for sentencing, when he or she first appears before the Royal Court –
(a) the
defendant shall be identified as the person charged with the offence; and
(b) the
contents of the indictment shall be read out.
(6) Where
a defendant has, under paragraph (2)(c), pleaded guilty to the offence, or
is a defendant who has been sent to the Royal Court for sentencing, the Royal
Court may, after enquiring into the circumstances of the case and hearing
representations from the parties including, if necessary, representations under
Article 78 to determine facts in dispute, sentence the defendant at that
hearing.
(7) If –
(a) there
is more than one offence specified in the indictment and the defendant pleads
not guilty in respect of any other offence, the Royal Court may adjourn the
hearing for sentencing of the defendant in respect of the guilty plea until the
defendant’s trial in respect of the other offence is concluded; or
(b) in
furtherance of the overriding objective Article 3(1)(f) is relevant, the
Royal Court may adjourn the hearing for the sentencing of the defendant at a
later date.
46 Power to amend
indictment
(1) Where,
before trial or sentencing, or at any stage of a trial, it appears to the Royal
Court on the application of the prosecution, that the indictment requires
amendment for any reason or is otherwise defective, the Court shall make such
order for the amendment of the indictment as the Court thinks necessary to meet
the circumstances of the case, unless, having regard to the merits of the case,
the required amendments cannot be made without injustice.
(2) An
order amending an indictment under paragraph (1) may –
(a) amend
the particulars of an offence;
(b) substitute
an offence;
(c) add
a new or an alternative offence; or
(d) remove
an offence.
(3) Where
an order is made under this Article, the particulars of the amended,
substituted, additional or alternative offence, as the case may be, shall be
read out and the defendant asked to enter a plea in respect of an offence
referred to in the indictment as amended.
47 Power to remit case
to the Magistrate’s Court
(1) The
Royal Court may, if the circumstances of the case justify it, remit a case to
the Magistrate’s Court for the sentencing or trial of a defendant, as the
case may be.
(2) Circumstances
which may justify the remitting of a case to the Magistrate’s Court include
where –
(a) the
nature or gravity of the offence has changed or reduced to the extent that the
Magistrate would be able to impose any penalty under Article 16; or
(b) it
is not in the interests of justice that a child or young person who has been
sent to the Royal Court under Article 30(4)(b), should be jointly
sentenced or tried, as the case may be, with another defendant who is not a
child or young person.
48 Mode
of trial
(1) Subject to the
provisions of this Article, a defendant may be tried either by the Royal Court
sitting with a jury, or by the Inferior Number of the Royal Court sitting
without a jury.
(2) A defendant whose
indictment only charges an offence which is an offence under customary law, may
elect to be tried –
(a) by
the Royal Court sitting with a jury; or
(b) by
the Inferior Number of the Royal Court sitting without a jury.
(3) This paragraph applies
where –
(a) no
election is made under paragraph (2); or
(b) a
defendant’s indictment charges 2 or more offences at least one of which is
an offence under customary law and the other an offence under an enactment.
(4) Where paragraph (3)
applies, the Royal Court shall decide, having regard to the nature and gravity
of the offence and after hearing any submissions from the defence and the
prosecution, the method by which the defendant shall be tried.
(5) Unless an enactment
expressly provides otherwise, a defendant whose indictment only charges an
offence which is an offence under an enactment shall be tried by the Inferior
Number of the Royal Court sitting without a jury.
(6) For the purposes of
this Article, an “offence under an enactment” includes an offence
under an enactment of the United Kingdom which extends or applies to Jersey.
49 Sittings
and composition of the Royal Court for trial with a jury
(1) This
Article applies where a defendant is to be tried by the Royal Court sitting
with a jury.
(2) In
a trial under this Article the Royal Court shall be composed only of the
Bailiff sitting with 12 jurors selected in accordance with
Article 66.
(3) The
Royal Court shall convene –
(a) when
necessary so as to conduct one or more trials under this Article; and
(b) for
as long as is necessary to conclude such trials.
(4) Where,
at the conclusion of a trial, the defendant is found guilty, the Royal Court
shall for the purposes of sentencing that defendant, sit as the Inferior Number
or as the Superior Number, depending upon the penalty that the Court may decide
to impose.
50 Sentencing where
facts in dispute
(1) This
Article applies where a defendant found guilty is to be sentenced, and the
defence disputes the facts upon which the defendant was found guilty.
(2) Where
this Article applies, the trial court –
(a) shall,
if invited by the defence or prosecution to do so; or
(b) may,
of its own motion,
communicate its view of the
facts to the sentencing court.
(3) Where,
under paragraph (2), the trial court has communicated its view of the
facts to the sentencing court, the sentencing court may sentence the defendant
on the basis of the facts so communicated.
(4) In
this Article –
(a) “trial
court” means –
(i) where the
defendant was tried by the Royal Court sitting with a jury, the Bailiff, or
(ii) where
the defendant was tried by the Inferior Number of the Royal Court sitting
without a jury, the Bailiff and Jurats;
(b) “sentencing
court” means the Royal Court sitting as the Inferior Number or Superior
number, as the case requires.
51 Verdict where
Royal Court sitting as Inferior Number with Bailiff and single Jurat
(1) This
Article applies where Article 15A(2) of the Royal Court (Jersey) Law 1948 applies.
(2) Where
the Bailiff and the Jurat disagree upon a verdict, the Bailiff shall determine
the verdict.
PART 8
PREPARATORY HEARINGS AND
RULINGS in the royal court
Preparatory hearings
52 Application of
Part 8[15]
This Part applies in relation to proceedings for an offence if a
defendant is sent for trial by the Magistrate’s Court to the Royal Court
or where proceedings are directly initiated before the Royal Court under
Article 14, and Articles 61(1) and (2) and 62 also apply in relation
to relevant DPA proceedings.
53 Power to order
preparatory hearing
(1) Where it appears to the
Bailiff that a case is so complex or is a case the trial of which is likely to
be so long that substantial benefits are likely to accrue from a hearing before
the trial and for any of the purposes listed in paragraph (2), he or she
may order that a hearing (in this Part referred to as a “preparatory
hearing”) shall be held.
(2) The purposes are those
of –
(a) identifying issues
which are likely to be material to the verdict of the Royal Court or jury;
(b) assisting
comprehension of those issues;
(c) expediting
the proceedings before the Royal Court or jury;
(d) assisting
the management of the trial.
(3) The Bailiff may make an
order under paragraph (1) on the application of the prosecution, the
defence, or of his or her own motion.
54 Start of trial
If the Bailiff orders a preparatory hearing the trial shall start
with that hearing and the contents of the indictment shall be read out to the
defendant at the start of that hearing, unless it has taken place before then.
55 The preparatory
hearing
(1) At the preparatory
hearing the Bailiff may exercise any of the powers specified in this Article.
(2) The Bailiff may adjourn
a preparatory hearing from time to time.
(3) The Bailiff may make a
ruling as to –
(a) any
question as to the admissibility of evidence;
(b) any
other question of law relating to the case; or
(c) any
question as to the joinder or severance of the offences in the indictment.
(4) The Bailiff may order
the prosecution –
(a) to
give the Royal Court and each defendant a written statement (a “case
statement”) of the matters falling within paragraph (5);
(b) to
prepare the prosecution evidence and any explanatory material in a form that
appears to the Bailiff to be likely to aid comprehension by the Royal Court or
jury and to give it in that form to that court and to each defendant;
(c) to
give the Royal Court and each defendant written notice of documents the truth
of the contents of which ought, in the prosecution’s view, to be admitted
and of any other matters which in the prosecution’s view ought to be
agreed;
(d) to
make any amendments of any case statement given in pursuance of an order under
sub-paragraph (a) that appear to the Bailiff to be appropriate, having
regard to objections made by any defendant.
(5) The matters referred to
in paragraph (4)(a) are –
(a) the
principal facts of the case for the prosecution;
(b) the
witnesses who will speak to those facts;
(c) any
exhibits relevant to those facts;
(d) any
proposition of law on which the prosecution proposes to rely;
(e) the
consequences in relation to any of the charges or counts in the indictment that
appear to the prosecution to flow from the matters falling within
sub-paragraphs (a) to (d).
(6) Where the Bailiff has
ordered the prosecution to give a case statement and the prosecution has
complied with the order, the Bailiff may order each defendant –
(a) to
give the Royal Court and the prosecution a written statement setting out in
general terms the nature of the defendant’s defence and indicating the
principal matters on which he or she takes issue with the prosecution;
(b) to
give the Royal Court and the prosecution written notice of any objections that
the defendant has to the case statement;
(c) to
give the Royal Court and the prosecution written notice of any point of law,
including any point as to the admissibility of evidence, which the defendant
wishes to take, and any authority on which the defendant intends to rely for
that purpose.
(7) Where the Bailiff has
ordered the prosecution to give notice under paragraph (4)(c) and the
prosecution has complied with the order, the Bailiff may order each defendant
to give the Royal Court and the prosecution a written notice
stating –
(a) the
extent to which he or she agrees with the prosecution as to documents and other
matters to which the notice under paragraph (4)(c) relates; and
(b) the
reason for any disagreement.
(8) The Bailiff, on making
an order under paragraph (6) or (7), shall warn each defendant of the
possible consequences under Article 57 of not complying with it.
(9) If it appears to the
Bailiff that reasons given in pursuance of paragraph (7) are inadequate,
the Bailiff shall so inform the person giving them and may require the person
to give further or better reasons.
(10) An order under this Article
may specify the time within which any requirement contained in it is to be
complied with.
(11) An order or ruling made under
this Article shall have effect throughout the trial, unless it appears to the
Bailiff, on application made to the Bailiff, that the interests of justice
require the Bailiff to vary or discharge it.
56 Orders before
preparatory hearing
(1) This Article applies
where the Bailiff orders a preparatory hearing and he or she decides that any order
which could be made under Article 55(4), (6) and (7) at the hearing,
should be made before the hearing.
(2) In that case, the
Bailiff may make that order before the hearing, or at the hearing, and
Article 55(4) to (11) shall apply accordingly.
Later stages
57 Later stages of
trial
(1) Any party may depart
from the case he or she disclosed in pursuance of a requirement imposed under
Article 55.
(2) Where a party departs
from the case he or she disclosed in pursuance of a requirement imposed under
Article 55, or a party fails to comply with that requirement, the Bailiff
or, with the leave of the Bailiff, any other party may make any comment that
appears to the Bailiff or the other party to be appropriate, and the Royal
Court or jury may draw any inference that appears proper.
(3) In deciding whether to
give leave the Bailiff shall have regard to the extent of the departure or
failure and to whether there is any justification for it.
(4) Except as provided by
this Article no part of a statement given under Article 55(6)(a) or of any
other information relating to the case for a defendant which was given in
pursuance of a requirement imposed under Article 55, may be disclosed at a
later stage in the trial without the consent of the defendant concerned.
58 Appeals to Court
of Appeal
(1) An appeal shall lie to
the Court of Appeal from any ruling of the Bailiff under Article 55(3),
but only with the leave of the Bailiff or of the Court of Appeal.
(2) The Bailiff may
continue a preparatory hearing notwithstanding that leave to appeal has been
granted under paragraph (1), but the trial shall not otherwise proceed
further until after the appeal has been determined or abandoned.
(3) On the hearing of the
appeal the Court of Appeal may confirm, reverse or vary the decision appealed
against.
(4) The power to make rules
of court under the Court of Appeal (Jersey)
Law 1961 shall include a power to specify the time within which an appeal
under this Part to the Court of Appeal shall be made and to regulate generally
the practice and procedure relating to any such appeal.
Rulings
59 Meaning of
pre-trial hearing
(1) For the purposes of
this Part a hearing is a pre-trial hearing if it relates to a trial for an
offence in the Royal Court and it takes place after the defendant has been sent
for trial by the Magistrate’s Court to the Royal Court under Part 6,
or after the proceedings for the offence have been initiated in the Royal
Court, under Article 14, and before the start of the trial.
(2) For the purposes of
this Article the start of a trial occurs when –
(a) a
jury is sworn to consider the issue of guilt;
(b) the
Royal Court, sitting with Jurats, sits to determine the issue of guilt; or
(c) if
the Royal Court accepts a plea of guilty before it begins to determine the
issue of guilt, when that plea is accepted, but subject to Article 54.
60 Power to make
rulings
(1) The Bailiff may make,
at a pre-trial hearing, a ruling as to any question as to the admissibility of
evidence and any other question of law relating to the case concerned.
(2) A ruling may be made
under this Article on an application by a party to the case or of the
Bailiff’s own motion.
(3) Subject to
paragraph (4), a ruling made under this Article has binding effect from
the time it is made until the case against each defendant is disposed of, and
the case against a defendant is disposed of if he or she is acquitted or
convicted or the prosecution decides not to proceed with the case against the
defendant.
(4) The Bailiff may
discharge, vary or further vary a ruling made under this Article if it appears
to the Bailiff that it is in the interests of justice to do so, and the Bailiff
may act under this paragraph on an application by a party to the case or of his
or her own motion.
(5) No application may be
made under paragraph (4) unless there has been a material change of
circumstances since the ruling was made or, if a previous application has been
made, since the last application was made.
Reporting restrictions
61 Restrictions
on reporting preparatory hearings or rulings, or relevant DPA
proceedings[16]
(1) Except
as provided by this Article no publication shall include a report of
proceedings falling within paragraph (2), or matters falling within
paragraph (3) and no report of those proceedings or matters shall be
included in a relevant programme for reception in Jersey.
(2) The
following proceedings fall within this paragraph –
(aa) an
application in relevant DPA proceedings, other than –
(i) a hearing at
which the Royal Court made an order under Article 7(2)(a) of the Deferred
Prosecution Agreements Law in relation to which publication under
Article 7(8) of that Law has occurred, or
(ii) a
hearing which takes place after such publication has occurred;
(a) a
preparatory hearing;
(b) an
application for leave to appeal in relation to that hearing; and
(c) an
appeal in relation to that hearing.[17]
(3) The
following matters fall within this paragraph –
(a) a
ruling made under Article 60;
(b) proceedings
on an application for a ruling to be made under Article 60;
(c) an
order that a ruling made under Article 60 be discharged or varied;
(d) proceedings
on an application for a ruling made under Article 60 to be discharged or
varied.
(4) The
Bailiff, in dealing with a preparatory hearing, may order that
paragraph (1) shall not apply, or shall not apply to a specified extent,
to a report of the preparatory hearing or an application to the Bailiff for
leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal under Article 58(1) in relation to
the preparatory hearing.
(5) The
Bailiff, in dealing with any matter falling within paragraph (3), may
order that paragraph (1) shall not apply, or shall not apply to a
specified extent, to a report of the matter.
(6) The
Court of Appeal may order that paragraph (1) shall not apply, or shall not
apply to a specified extent, to a report of an appeal to the Court of Appeal
under Article 58(1) in relation to a preparatory hearing or an application
to that Court for leave to appeal to it under Article 58(1) in relation to
a preparatory hearing.
(7) Where
there is only one defendant and he or she objects to the making of an order
under paragraph (4), (5) or (6) the Bailiff or the Court of Appeal (as the
case may be) shall make the order if satisfied after hearing the
representations of the defendant that it is in the interests of justice to do
so and if the order is made it shall not apply to the extent that a report deals
with that objection or those representations.
(8) Where
there are 2 or more defendants and one or more of them objects to the making of
an order under paragraph (4), (5) or (6) the Bailiff or the Court of
Appeal (as the case may be) shall make the order if satisfied after hearing the
representations of each of the defendants that it is in the interests of
justice to do so and if the order is made it shall not apply to the extent that
a report deals with that objection or those representations.
(9) Paragraph (1)
shall not apply to the following at the conclusion of the trial of the last of
the defendants to be tried –
(a) the inclusion
in a publication of a report of a preparatory hearing or any matter falling
within paragraph (3); or
(b) the inclusion
in a publication of a report of an appeal in relation to a preparatory hearing
or of an application for leave to appeal in relation to that hearing.
(10) In
relation to proceedings falling within paragraph (2), paragraph (1)
shall not apply to a report which only contains one or more of the following
matters –
(a) the
identity of the court and the name of the person presiding;
(b) the
name and age of a defendant of full age;
(c) the
offence or offences, or a summary of them, with which a defendant is charged;
(d) the
name of any advocate in the proceedings;
(e) where
the proceedings are adjourned, the date and place to which they are adjourned;
(f) whether
the defendant was granted bail;
(g) whether
the defendant was granted legal aid.
(11) Nothing
in this Article affects any prohibition or restriction imposed by virtue of any
other enactment on the inclusion of any matter in a publication.
62 Offences
in connection with reporting preparatory hearings or rulings, or relevant DPA proceedings[18]
(1) If
a report is included in a publication in contravention of Article 61, each
of the following persons shall be guilty of an offence –
(a) where
the publication is a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, editor or
publisher of the newspaper or periodical;
(b) where
the publication is a relevant programme, any body corporate which is engaged in
providing the service in which the programme is included and any person having
functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of an editor of a
newspaper;
(c) in
the case of any other publication, the person who publishes it.
(2) A
person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be liable to a fine.
(3) Proceedings
for an offence under this Article shall not be commenced without the consent of
the Attorney General.
PART 9
juries
63 Eligibility
for jury service
(1) Subject
to the provisions of this Part, every person shall be eligible to serve as a
juror and be liable, accordingly, to attend for jury service when summoned,
if –
(a) he or
she has attained the age of 18 and has not attained the age of 72;
(b) he or
she is entitled to have his or her name included on the electoral register in
accordance with Article 5 of the Public Elections (Jersey)
Law 2002; and
(c) he or
she is not exempt from, or disqualified for jury service.
(2) A
person is exempt from jury service if he or she is –
(a) the
Attorney General or Solicitor General;
(b) the
Bailiff or Deputy Bailiff;
(c) a Commissioner;
(d) the
Judicial Greffier, Deputy Judicial Greffier or a Greffier Substitute;
(e) a
Jurat;
(f) the
Magistrate or Assistant Magistrate;
(g) the
Viscount or Deputy Viscount;
(h) a
member of the Youth Court Panel;
(i) an
advocate, solicitor, prosecutor or Centenier;
(j) an
officer of the Bailiff’s Department or Law Officers Department appointed,
as referred to in Article 1(1) of the Departments of the Judiciary
and the Legislature (Jersey) Law 1965 (the “1965 Law”),
to ensure the service of those Departments; or
(k) a
police officer in the States of Jersey Police Force.
(3) A
person is disqualified for jury service if he or she –
(a) is detained,
or liable to be detained, under the Mental Health Law;
(b) is subject
to guardianship under Part 4 of the Mental Health Law;
(c) lacks
capacity, within the meaning of the Capacity and Self- Determination (Jersey)
Law 2016, to serve as a juror;
(d) has
at any time, in Jersey or elsewhere, been sentenced to imprisonment for one
month or more;
(e) has,
within 10 years immediately before being summoned for jury service, been convicted –
(i) of any offence,
and –
(A) sentenced
to imprisonment (including a sentence by virtue of Article 4 of the Young
Offenders Law),
(B) been
subject to a probation order with a condition imposed under Article 3 of
the Probation Law, or
(C) been
subject to an order imposed under Article 2 of the Community Service
Orders Law, or
(ii) of
an offence under the law of a jurisdiction other than Jersey, and sentenced to
a penalty equivalent to any of those listed in clause (i);
(f) is
bound over by virtue of an order under Article 2 of the Probation Law and
who remains subject to such an order;
(g) is,
in Jersey or elsewhere –
(i) awaiting trial
for any offence punishable with imprisonment,
(ii) in
contempt of court, or
(iii) liable
to arrest.
(4) The
States may, by Regulations, amend the list of persons exempt from, or
disqualified for, jury service set out in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(5) In paragraph (2)(j)
“Bailiff’s Department” and “Law Officers
Department” have the meaning given in Article 1(1)(a) and (b) of the
1965 Law.
64 Jury
and panel lists
(1) Regulations
under this Article shall make provision for, or in connection with, the
following requirements –
(a) for
the Viscount to compile a list of persons who are eligible to serve as jurors
(“jury list”);
(b) for
the parishes or any other administration of the States to provide the Viscount
with such information, and in such form, as may be prescribed to enable the
compilation of the jury list;
(c) for
the Viscount, upon notification by the Judicial Greffier in such manner as may
be prescribed, to prepare a list of persons (“panel list”) who may
be called upon to serve as jurors.
(2) When
the Viscount receives notification that a panel list is required, the Viscount
shall, from the jury list, select at random such numbers of persons as appear
to the Viscount to be necessary for the purposes of securing that a sufficient
number of persons will be available to serve on a jury for a trial on a given
date or trials throughout a given period.
(3) The
Viscount may, if he or she considers it expedient, form a supplementary panel
list compiled in accordance with paragraph (2).
(4) When
the panel list has been compiled, it shall be signed by the Viscount who shall
then individually summon the persons named on that list to attend for jury
service.
(5) A
summons requiring a person to attend for jury service shall be –
(a) signed
by the Viscount;
(b) in
the prescribed form and contain such information as may be prescribed; and
(c) served
upon the person in such manner as may be prescribed.
65 Viscount’s
power to exempt from jury service
(1) The
Viscount may, of his or her own motion or on the written application of a
person summoned to attend for jury service, exempt the person from his or her
duty to attend –
(a) if
the Viscount considers the person to be exempted from or disqualified for jury
service under Article 63 or under any other enactment; or
(b) for
any other reason which the Viscount considers sufficient to justify such
exemption.
(2) The
Viscount shall notify the Judicial Greffier of every application received and
decision he or she has made under paragraph (1) together with the reasons
given for the decision.
(3) A
person aggrieved by a decision of the Viscount following a written application
under paragraph (1) may renew that application to the Royal Court.
(4) Criminal
Procedure Rules may make provision as to procedure for an application under
paragraph (3) and for the determination of that application.
(5) A
person who, with the intention of obtaining an exemption under this Article,
makes a false declaration or representation in a written application under paragraph (1),
is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.
66 Selection
of persons for jury service
(1) A jury shall be
constituted of 12 persons.
(2) The persons who
constitute the jury shall be selected in accordance with this Article and
Articles 68 and 69.
(3) Except as provided
under paragraph (4), on the day upon which a person has been summoned to
attend for jury service, the names of not less than 12 persons appearing
on the panel list shall, in open court, be read out by the Judicial Greffier in
the order in which the names appear on the list.
(4) A person whose name
appears on the panel list shall not be read out –
(a) if
that person has, since the compilation of that list, been exempted from jury
service under Article 65; or
(b) if it
appears to the Bailiff that it would be in the interests of justice not to
identify that person.
(5) This paragraph applies where
a trial is expected to last for more than 5 days.
(6) Where paragraph (5)
applies, once 12 persons have been selected to serve as jurors, the names
of 2 further persons shall, subject to paragraph (4), be read from
the list in the order in which their names appear on the list.
(7) The 2 further
persons referred to in paragraph (6) shall, subject to Articles 68 and
69, be the jury’s reserve jurors.
(8) A reserve juror must be
called to serve on the jury if, at any time up to the point that the Bailiff
concludes his or her summing up of the case, the number of jurors is reduced.
(9) The
Bailiff –
(a) may
discharge a reserve juror from jury service if he or she is not required to
serve on the jury immediately before the commencement of the Bailiff’s
summing up of the case; or
(b) must,
when the jury retires to consider its verdict, discharge a reserve juror from
jury service.
67 Offence of failing to attend or serve as a juror
(1) A person is guilty of
an offence and liable to a fine if, without reasonable excuse, that
person –
(a) fails
to attend for jury service when summoned under Article 64(4); (b) having
attended for jury service, is not available when selected to serve as a juror;
or
(c) having
been selected to serve as a juror, withdraws from jury service without the
permission of the Bailiff.
(2) It shall be for the
person to prove that he or she had a reasonable excuse under paragraph (1).
68 Non-selection
of person for jury service - family relationship
(1) This Article applies
where it appears to the Bailiff that a father or mother and a son or daughter; 2 persons
married to each other; 2 civil partners in a civil partnership;
2 brothers; 2 sisters; or a brother and a sister are both on the panel
list.
(2) A person who is related
to another person by reason of the relationship described in paragraph (1)
(“related person”) and whose name appears on the list after the
other related person on the list, cannot serve on the same jury and the Bailiff
shall discharge him or her from the requirement to attend for jury service on
that occasion.
69 Non-selection
of person for jury service by reason of successful challenge
(1) The defence or
prosecution may, for good reason, challenge any person whose name is read from
the list and that challenge must be made after the person’s name has been
read out and before he or she is sworn to serve on a jury.
(2) A challenge shall not
be accepted by the Bailiff other than for a legitimate reason, that is to say –
(a) a risk
of material prejudice to the trial;
(b) manifest
unsuitability; or
(c) in
the interests of justice.
(3) The fact that a person
summoned to serve on a jury is not qualified to serve as a juror, or is
otherwise not permitted to serve, shall be a ground of challenge for good
reason.
(4) The Bailiff may, of his
or her own motion, discharge a person from the requirement to attend for jury
service on one or more of the grounds referred to in paragraphs (2) and
(3).
(5) If, when all the names
on the panel list have been read out, the number of unchallenged or
undischarged persons remaining is insufficient to constitute a jury, the trial
shall be postponed until –
(a) the
persons whose names appear on any supplementary panel list, formed under
Article 64(3); or
(b) the
Viscount forms a new panel list and the persons on that list,
are summoned to constitute a jury in accordance with Article 66.
70 Swearing
of jurors
(1) Each juror and reserve
juror selected under Article 66 –
(a) must
take an oath or make a solemn affirmation; and
(b) becomes
a full jury member until discharged.
(2) For the purposes of
this Article, the States may, by Regulations, prescribe the form of oath which
may be taken by a juror.
(3) The solemn affirmation
shall be in the appropriate form set out in the Schedule to the Solemn
Affirmations Law.
71 Reduction
in number of jurors
(1) This paragraph applies
if, during a trial, a member of the jury –
(a) dies;
(b) becomes
ill or is otherwise indisposed preventing him or her from continuing as a juror;
or
(c) is
discharged by the Court for any other legitimate reason.
(2) Where paragraph (1)
applies, provided the number of jurors is not reduced below 10, the jury
shall be deemed to be duly constituted and the proceedings shall continue and a
verdict may be delivered accordingly.
(3) If there is an
insufficient number of reserve jurors to constitute a jury of not less than
10 jurors, the Bailiff shall discharge the jury from the proceedings and
from the custody of the Viscount (as referred to in Article 72(1)(a)).
(4) Where paragraph (3)
applies, the Attorney General shall, not more than 7 days after the day
the jury is discharged, notify the defendant and the Bailiff whether or not
there is to be a retrial of the proceedings.
(5) In determining when the
7 day expires, there shall be disregarded Christmas Day, Good Friday and
any Bank Holiday.
(6) The Bailiff shall
adjourn the case pending receipt of the Attorney General’s notification,
and may remand the defendant in custody or on bail.
72 Conduct
of jury
(1) Except where paragraph (4)
applies, from the time when the jury is sworn, until the time the jury delivers
its verdict –
(a) the
jury shall remain in the custody of the Viscount throughout the course of the
trial; and
(b) the
jurors are only permitted to communicate with –
(i) each other, or
(ii) a
member of the staff of the Royal Court or Viscount.
(2) The Viscount shall
ensure that the jury does not otherwise communicate with any other person
outside the jury room.
(3) A juror who
communicates with another person in contravention of paragraph (1)(b), is
guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
2 years and to a fine.
(4) The Bailiff may, if he
or she thinks fit, permit the jurors, at any time either before or after they
have retired to consider their verdict, to leave the custody of the Viscount
and to separate, and in such a case the prohibition against communicating with
anyone shall only apply to communications concerning the case.
(5) At the conclusion of
the trial the jurors, escorted by the Viscount, shall retire to the jury room
to consider their verdict.
(6) The jurors shall select
from one of their number a juror who shall chair the jury’s deliberations
and deliver the jury’s verdict.
(7) Exhibits or other
material relevant to the trial, may be made available to the jury in such
manner as may be prescribed.
(8) The costs incurred by
placing the jury in the custody of the Viscount shall be paid out of the annual
income of the States.
73 Surrender of communication devices
(1) The Bailiff may order
the members of the jury to surrender, for a period, any form of device which is
capable of transmitting or receiving, in any manner, communications in any form.
(2) An order may be made
only if the Bailiff considers that –
(a) the
order is necessary or expedient in the interests of justice; and
(b) the
terms of the order are a proportionate means of safeguarding those interests.
(3) An order may only
specify a period during which the members of the jury are –
(a) in
the building in which the trial is being heard;
(b) in
other accommodation provided at the Bailiff’s request;
(c) visiting
a place in accordance with arrangements made by the court; or
(d) travelling
to or from a place mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) or (c).
(4) An order may be made
subject to exceptions.
(5) It is a contempt of
court for a member of a jury to fail to surrender any form of device in
accordance with an order under this Article.
74 Offence:
research by jurors
(1) A juror who, during the
period of a trial, researches a case –
(a) by
intentionally searching for information on an electronic database, including by
means of the internet; and
(b) when
doing so, knows or ought reasonably to know that the information is, or may be
relevant to the case which is being tried,
is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 2 years and to a fine.
(2) Information relevant to
the case includes information about –
(a) a
person involved in events relevant to the case;
(b) the judge
presiding at the trial;
(c) any
other person involved in the trial, whether as a lawyer, a witness or
otherwise;
(d) the
law relating to the case;
(e) the
law of evidence; and
(f) court
procedure.
(3) In this paragraph, the
expression “the period of a trial” is the period –
(a) beginning
when the juror is sworn to try the case; and
(b) ending
when the Bailiff discharges the jury or, if earlier, when he or she discharges
the juror.
75 Verdicts
(1) If a verdict cannot be delivered
on the same day as the jury retires to consider its verdict, the proceedings shall
be adjourned to the following day, and from day to day if necessary, until the
verdict has been delivered.
(2) The jury must deliver a
unanimous verdict unless the Bailiff directs that the jury may deliver a
majority verdict.
(3) A majority verdict is
delivered if a jury is constituted of –
(a) 12 jurors
and at least 10 of them agree on the verdict; or
(b) less
than 12 jurors and at least 9 of them agree on the verdict.
(4) The Judicial Greffier
must ask the juror selected under Article 72(6) –
(a) when
the jury is ready to deliver its verdict, whether the defendant is guilty or
not guilty of the offence (or each offence, if more than one) charged in the
indictment;
(b) when
the verdict has been delivered in respect of the offence (or each
offence) –
(i) if the Bailiff
has invited the Judicial Greffier to do so, whether the jury is ready to
deliver a verdict in respect of an alternative or lesser offence than that
charged in the indictment,
(ii) whether
the jury’s verdict was agreed unanimously or by a majority, and
(iii) in
the case of a majority guilty verdict, how many jurors were in favour of
convicting and how many jurors were in favour of acquitting the defendant.
(5) In the case of a guilty
verdict the defendant shall stand convicted of the offence and sentenced
accordingly.
(6) In the case of a not
guilty verdict the defendant shall be acquitted of the offence and, provided
the defendant is not convicted of another offence charged in the indictment, he
or she shall be discharged from the proceedings.
(7) The Judicial Greffier
shall make a record of every verdict.
(8) If, following such
period of time for deliberation as the Bailiff thinks reasonable having regard
to the nature and complexity of the case, the jury is unable to deliver a
verdict upon which the majority of jurors are agreed, the Bailiff shall
discharge –
(a) the
jury from the proceedings and from the custody of the Viscount; and
(b) the
defendant from the proceedings provided he or she is not convicted of another
offence charged in the indictment.
(9) The Bailiff may, upon
formally discharging the defendant from the proceedings, make such other orders
or directions as may be required in relation to the discharged proceedings, or
in relation to any other criminal proceedings pending before the Royal Court in
respect of that defendant.
(10) After a verdict is delivered,
that verdict is not liable to be set aside by reason of a failure to comply
with the requirements of this Law as regards the summoning or empanelling of
jurors or the incapacity of a person to serve as a juror.[19]
Part 10
miscellaneous procedures in magistrate’s
court and Royal court
Application
76 Application
and general interpretation of Part 10
(1) This Part applies to
criminal proceedings before the Magistrate’s Court and the Royal Court.
(2) In this
Part –
“defence case statement” shall be construed in
accordance with Article 84;
“witness notice” shall be construed in accordance with
Article 85.
Arrest order with bail
77 Arrest
order with bail
(1) This Article applies where
the court, in the exercise of powers under this Law or under any other
enactment, orders the arrest of a person.
(2) Where this Article
applies, the court may grant the person bail by endorsing the order with a
direction in accordance with paragraph (3).
(3) A direction endorsed on
an order under paragraph (2), may state that the person arrested is to be
released on bail –
(a) subject
to a duty to appear before the court at the time and on the date notified by
the court; or
(b) on
condition that the person provides a security for his or her appearance before
the court at the time and on the date notified by the court.
(4) The security referred
to in paragraph (3)(b) –
(a) shall
be of such an amount as the court directs to be specified in the endorsement;
(b) must
be deposited with the Viscount before the person is released on bail; and
(c) may
be provided by the person, or on his or her behalf.
(5) If a person granted
bail subject to a security under this Article fails, without reasonable excuse,
to appear before the court as notified under paragraph (3)(a), the
security shall be forfeited in accordance with Article 13 of the Bail Law.
(6) A person granted bail
under this Article who, without reasonable excuse, fails to appear before the
court as notified under paragraph (3)(a), shall be guilty of an offence
and Article 20 of the Bail Law shall apply for the purposes of that
offence.
Determination of disputed facts where guilty
plea entered
78 Guilty
plea - procedure to determine facts disputed
(1) This Article applies where
a defendant pleads guilty but disputes the facts of the offence alleged by the
prosecution.
(2) Where agreement as to
the facts disputed is not reached between the defendant and the prosecution, unless
the court directs otherwise, the following procedure shall be followed –
(a) the
defendant’s basis of his or her plea must be set out in writing,
identifying what is in dispute and must be signed by the defendant;
(b) the
court may invite the parties to make representations about whether the dispute
is material to sentence; and
(c) if
the court decides that it is a material dispute, the court shall invite such
further representations or evidence as it may require.
(3) Where agreement as to
the facts disputed is reached between the defendant and the prosecution, the
court may, notwithstanding such agreement, of its own motion require that
evidence relevant to the facts disputed shall be heard.
(4) In proceedings before
the Royal Court, representations or evidence under this Article shall be given
before the Inferior Number.
Withdrawal of guilty plea, discontinuance or
continuation of proceedings
79 Withdrawal
of guilty plea
(1) A defendant who has
entered a guilty plea may at any time, with leave of the court, withdraw that
plea.
(2) Where the court grants
a defendant leave to withdraw his or her guilty plea, the court shall give
directions as to the future conduct of the proceedings.
80 Discontinuance
of proceedings
(1) In this
Article –
“preliminary stage” in relation to proceedings for an
offence does not include any stage of the proceedings after the
Magistrate’s Court or Royal Court has begun to hear evidence for the
prosecution;
“authorized prosecutor” means a prosecutor who is
authorized in writing by the Attorney General to give a notice under paragraph (2).
(2) The Attorney General or
an authorized prosecutor may, at any time during the preliminary stages of the
proceedings, give notice that he or she does not want the proceedings to
continue in relation to an offence specified in the notice (“specified
offence”).
(3) [20]
(4) The Attorney General or
authorized prosecutor shall, in any notice given under paragraph (2) –
(a) state
whether the reason for discontinuing the proceedings –
(i) is
that it would not be in the public interest to proceed with the prosecution of
the defendant for the specified offence, or
(ii) is
that there is insufficient evidence to support the prosecution of the defendant
for the specified offence; and
(b) inform
the defendant of his or her right to apply for the proceedings in respect of
the specified offence to continue.
(5) A defendant who, under
paragraph (4)(b), wants the proceedings to continue, must serve the
Magistrate’s Court or Royal Court (as the case may be) with a notice to
that effect not more than 14 days after the notice given under paragraph (2).
(6) If the defendant serves
a notice under paragraph (5) –
(a) the
Magistrate or Judicial Greffier must notify the Attorney General or authorized
prosecutor; and
(b) the
proceedings shall continue as if no notice had been given under paragraph (2).
(6A) The proceedings in respect of the
specified offence are discontinued with effect from –
(a) 14 days
after the date that a notice under paragraph (2) is given to the
Magistrate’s Court or Judicial Greffier, as the case may be; or
(b) if,
before the proceedings are discontinued under sub-paragraph (a), the defendant
notifies the court that the defendant does not intend to serve a notice under
paragraph (5), the date of that notification.[21]
(6B) The court must record that the
proceedings are discontinued. [22]
(7) The discontinuance of
any proceedings under this Article shall not prevent the Attorney General from
instituting fresh proceedings in respect of the same offence, provided that
where the reason for discontinuing the original proceedings –
(a) was
under paragraph (4)(a)(i), the Attorney General is of the opinion that
there are exceptional circumstances justifying the institution of fresh
proceedings in respect of that offence; or
(b) was
under paragraph (4)(a)(ii) –
(i) further
evidence has come to light,
(ii) the
original decision to discontinue the proceedings was incorrect, or
(iii) the
original decision to discontinue the proceedings would have been different in
the light of a change in circumstances, or new information since the original
decision was made.
(8) Criminal Procedure Rules
may make provision as to the form, content and service of any notices given
under this Article.
81 Continuation
of previous proceedings
(1) The Attorney General
may, at any time, with leave of the court or Court of Appeal progress
previously halted criminal proceedings.
(2) The reference to halted
criminal proceedings is a reference to proceedings in relation to offences
which the court has, at the request of the prosecution, ordered to be
“left on file”.
(3) Where leave is sought
from a court other than the Court of Appeal, unless the court which made the
order halting the previous proceedings has expressly ordered otherwise, nothing
in this Article shall be taken to prevent the Attorney General from applying
for leave of a court other than the one which made the order halting the
previous proceedings.
81A Continuation or
discontinuance of previously suspended proceedings[23]
(1) The Attorney General may,
at any time, with leave of the court progress proceedings that have been
suspended under Article 14(1B).
(2) Where
Article 12(1) of the Deferred Prosecution Agreements Law applies, the
Attorney General must give notice that the Attorney General wishes the
proceedings in relation to the offence specified in the indictment to be discontinued
on the ground that the deferred prosecution entered into in relation to the
offence has expired.
(3) Where a notice is given
under paragraph (2) –
(a) proceedings
in respect of the offence are discontinued with immediate effect; and
(b) the
court must record that the proceedings are discontinued.
Disclosure
81B Application of
Articles 82 to 85[24]
The respective duties of
the prosecution and the defendant under Articles 82 to 85 do not apply, to
the extent that they have not already been discharged, during any period when
proceedings are halted or suspended.
82 Duty of prosecution
to disclose unused material
(1) Subject to paragraph (3),
the prosecution must –
(a) disclose
to the defendant any unused prosecution material which has not previously been
disclosed to the defendant and which might reasonably be considered capable of
undermining the case for the prosecution against the defendant, or of assisting
the case for the defendant; and
(b) give
to the defendant a written statement confirming –
(i) that
all unused prosecution material of a description mentioned sub-paragraph (a)
has been disclosed to the defendant, or
(ii) that
the prosecution holds no material of such a description.
(2) In this Article,
“unused prosecution material” is material which is in the prosecution’s
possession, and came into its possession in connection with the case for the
prosecution against the defendant.
(3) Unused prosecution
material must not be disclosed under this Article where, on an application by
the prosecution, it appears to the Magistrate or the Bailiff that it is not in
the public interest to disclose it, and he or she makes an order to that effect.
(4) The prosecution must
disclose any unused prosecution material after the defendant has first entered
a not guilty plea and in accordance with any directions given by the court as
to service of that material.
(5) The prosecution shall
be under a continuing duty to disclose any unused prosecution material,
including material relevant to any matters set out in the defendant’s
defence case statement, until the trial of the defendant’s case is
concluded either by way of the defendant’s acquittal or conviction, or
the proceedings having otherwise been –
(a) discontinued
under Article 80; or
(b) halted
by the court.
83 Duty
to give defence case statement
(1) Where –
(a) the
prosecution has served on the defendant a copy of the set of documents
containing the evidence which is the basis of the charge; and
(b) the unused
prosecution material has been disclosed in accordance with Article 82(1),
the defendant must, subject to paragraph (3), give a defence case
statement to the court and the prosecution.[25]
(2) The defence case statement
shall –
(a) be in
the prescribed form;
(b) be signed
by the defendant, or if he or she is unable to sign it personally, by the
defendant’s legal representative on his or her behalf;
(c) contain
the particulars set out in Article 84; and
(d) be
served in accordance with the court’s directions.
(3) If the defendant has no
legal representative the court may, on the application of the defendant or of
the court’s own motion, dispense with the requirement to give a defence
case statement.
(4) If it appears to the
Magistrate or Bailiff that the defendant has failed to comply fully with this
Article so that there is a possibility of comment being made or inferences
drawn under Article 86(2), he or she shall warn the defendant accordingly.
(5) If it appears to the Magistrate
or Bailiff that the defendant has not given a defence case statement in
accordance with paragraph (1), or one which complies with the requirements
set out in paragraph (2), the Magistrate or Bailiff (as the case may be)
may order that –
(a) the defendant’s
legal representative; or
(b) a
defendant in person (where he or she is unrepresented),
pay such of the prosecution’s costs as are attributable to the
defendant’s failure to comply with paragraph (1) or (2).[26]
(6) A determination under
paragraph (5) shall be made as soon as practicable after the date directed
by the court, under paragraph (2)(d), for service of the defence case
statement has expired.
(7) Any costs ordered to be
paid under paragraph (5) shall be enforced as a civil debt without further
order of the court.
(8) The defendant shall be
under a continuing duty to disclose any material change to any matters set out
in the defendant’s defence case statement, or change in the defence
relied upon, until the trial of the defendant’s case is concluded either by
way of the defendant’s acquittal or conviction, or the proceedings having
otherwise been –
(a) discontinued
under Article 80; or
(b) halted
by the court.
84 Content
of defence case statement
(1) A defence case statement
is a written statement which –
(a) sets
out the nature of the defence, including any particular defences on which the
defendant intends to rely;
(b) indicates
the matters of fact on which the defendant takes issue with the prosecution;
(c) sets
out, in the case of each such matter of fact, why the defendant takes issue
with the prosecution;
(d) sets
out particulars of the matters of fact on which the defendant intends to rely
for the purposes of his or her defence; and
(e) indicates
any point of law (including any point as to the admissibility of evidence or an
abuse of process) which the defendant wishes to take, and any authority on
which he or she intends to rely for that purpose.
(2) A defence case statement
that discloses an alibi must give particulars of it, including –
(a) the
name, address and date of birth of any witness the defendant believes is able
to give evidence in support of the alibi (that is, evidence that the defendant
was in a particular place or area and at a particular time which is not
consistent with the defendant having committed the alleged offence at a
particular place and time), or as many of those details as are known to the
defendant when the defence case statement is given; and
(b) any
information in the defendant’s possession which might be of material assistance
in identifying or finding any such witness in whose case any of the personal details
mentioned in paragraph (a) are not known to the defendant when the defence
case statement is given.
(3) Where a
defendant’s legal representative has signed the defence case statement on
the defendant’s behalf, the statement shall be treated as if signed by
the defendant.
(4) For the purposes of
fulfilling the continuing duty referred to in Article 83(8), a defence
case statement shall be amended in such form or manner as may be prescribed.
85 Notification
of intention to call defence witnesses
(1) The defendant must give
to the court and the prosecution a notice indicating whether he or she intends
to call any persons (other than himself or herself), including a person
mentioned in Article 84(2), as witnesses at his or her trial and, if so,
such a notice (“witness notice”) shall include the following
particulars –
(a) the
name, address and date of birth of each such proposed witness, or as many of
those details as are known to the defendant when the notice is given; and
(b) any
information in the defendant’s possession which might be of material
assistance in identifying or finding any such proposed witness in whose case
any of the personal details mentioned in paragraph (a) are not known to
the defendant when the notice is given.
(2) The particulars
mentioned in paragraph (1) do not have to be given under this Article to
the extent that they have already been given under Article 84(2).
(3) The defendant must give
a witness notice under this Article within such period as may be prescribed.
(4) If, following the
giving of a witness notice, the defendant –
(a) decides
to call a person (other than himself or herself) who is not included in that
notice as a proposed witness, or decides not to call a person who is so
included; or
(b) discovers
any information which, under paragraph (1), he or she would have had to
include in the notice if he or she had been aware of it when giving the notice,
the defendant must give an appropriately amended witness notice to
the court and the prosecution.
86 Non-compliant
defence case statement or witness notice
(1) This Article applies
where a defendant –
(a) fails
to give a defence case statement as required by Article 83(1);
(b) fails
to serve a defence case statement in accordance with directions given under
Article 83(2)(d);
(c) fails
to serve a defence case statement containing the particulars required under
Article 84;
(d) sets
out inconsistent defences in the defence case statement;
(e) at
his or her trial –
(i) puts
forward a defence which was not mentioned in his or her defence case statement
or is different from any defence set out in that statement,
(ii) relies
on a matter or any particular of any matter of fact which was not mentioned in
his or her defence case statement,
(iii) adduces
evidence in support of an alibi without having given particulars of the alibi
in his or her defence case statement, or
(iv) calls
a witness to give evidence in support of an alibi without having complied with
Article 84(2) as regards the witness in his or her defence case statement;
or
(f) at
his or her trial calls a witness (other than himself or herself) not included,
or not adequately identified, in a witness notice.
(2) Where this Article applies –
(a) the
court or any other party may make such comment as appears appropriate;
(b) the
Magistrate’s Court or the Royal Court sitting with Jurats or a jury may
draw such inferences as appear proper in deciding whether the defendant is guilty
of the offence concerned.
(3) A defendant shall not
be convicted of an offence solely on an inference drawn under paragraph (2)(b).
(4) Where the defendant
puts forward a defence which is different from any defence set out in his or
her defence case statement, in doing anything under paragraph (2) or in
deciding whether to do anything under it, the court shall have
regard –
(a) to
the extent of the difference in the defences; and
(b) to
whether there is any justification for it.
(5) Where the defendant
calls a witness whom he or she has failed to include, or to identify adequately
in a witness notice, in doing anything under paragraph (2) or in deciding
whether to do anything under it, the court shall have regard as to whether
there is any justification for the failure.
Attendance of defendant before a court
87 Power
to hear the defendant through television link
(1) In any criminal
proceedings, the court may, with the consent of the defendant, direct that the
defendant shall be treated as being present at the proceedings if, during the
proceedings, either by way of a live television link or by another means, he or
she is able to see and hear the court and he or she is able also to be seen and
heard by the court.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1),
in any hearing, other than the trial hearing itself, the court may, after
hearing representations from the parties and without requiring the consent of
the defendant, direct that the defendant shall be treated as being present in
the court if, during that hearing, either by way of a live television link or
otherwise, the defendant is able to see and hear the court and to be seen and
heard by the court.
88 Defendant’s
duty to attend trial and trial in defendant’s absence
(1) Unless the court
excuses a defendant from attending his or her trial, a defendant is otherwise
required to be present at court throughout his or her trial.
(2) The court may, subject
to paragraph (3), proceed to try the defendant in his or her absence if that
defendant chooses not to exercise his or her right to be present at his or her
trial by voluntarily absenting himself or herself from the court at the
beginning of, or during his or her trial.
(3) Before the court decides
to proceed to try a defendant in his or her absence, the court shall have due
regard to the interests of justice which shall include consideration of such of
the following factors as appear to the court to be relevant –
(a) the
conduct of the defendant;
(b) the
disadvantage to the defendant;
(c) the
public interest that will weigh in favour of commencing or
continuing the trial taking account of the inconvenience and hardship –
(i) to
witnesses and especially to any complainant, of a delay to the trial,
(ii) to
witnesses who have attended court and are ready to give evidence;
(d) the
effect of any delay;
(e) whether
the defendant is off the Island;
(f) whether
the attendance of the defendant could be secured at a later hearing;
(g) the
likely outcome if the defendant is found guilty,
as well as any other factors which also appear to the court to be
relevant.
(4) If a defendant is
convicted in his or her absence, the court shall endeavour to secure that he or
she is present at any sentencing hearing and, so far as is reasonably practicable,
arrange for the defendant to be legally represented at that hearing.
Reporting of criminal proceedings
89 Contemporary reports of
criminal proceedings
(1) In criminal
proceedings, the court may, where it appears to the court to be necessary for
avoiding a substantial risk of prejudice to the administration of justice in
those proceedings, or in any other criminal proceedings pending or imminent, order
that publication in Jersey of the proceedings or of any part of the
proceedings, be postponed for any period that the court thinks necessary for
that purpose.
(2) A court may make an
order under paragraph (1) of its own motion or on application by any of
the parties and, where a court makes an order under paragraph (1), it may
give any directions that appear to the court to be necessary for the purposes
of the order.
(3) A person aggrieved by
an order under paragraph (1) may appeal in the case of an order made by
the Magistrate’s Court, to the Inferior Number of the Royal Court or in
the case of an order made by the Youth Court, to the Youth Appeal Court or in
the case of an order made by the Royal Court, to the Court of Appeal, and the
decision of the court hearing that appeal shall be final.
(4) On the hearing of an
appeal under paragraph (3) the court may do any of the following –
(a) stay
any proceedings in any other court until after the appeal is disposed of;
(b) confirm,
reverse or vary the order complained of; and
(c) make
an order as to costs subject to such rates or scales of payment of any costs
payable out of public funds or by the defendant as are provided for by
Regulations made under Article 6 of the Costs in Criminal Cases
(Jersey) Law 1961.[27]
(5) Where a court has made an
order under paragraph (1), if a report is included in a publication or
relevant programme in contravention of that order the following shall be guilty
of an offence and liable to a fine –
(a) where
the publication is a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, editor or
publisher of the newspaper or periodical;
(b) where
the publication is a relevant programme, any body corporate which provides the
service in which the programme is included and any person having functions in
relation to the programme corresponding to those of an editor of a newspaper;
(c) in
the case of any other publication, the person who publishes it.
(6) This Article shall be
in addition to, and not in derogation from, any other enactment or rule of
customary law with respect to the publication of reports and proceedings of any
court.
90 Defence
of innocent publication
(1) A person is not guilty
of an offence under Article 89(5) if at the time of publication (having
taken all reasonable care) the person does not know and has no reason to
suspect that an order has been made under Article 89(1).
(2) The burden of proof of
any fact tending to establish a defence afforded by this Article to any person
lies upon that person.
PART 11
Provisions in relation to defendants and
witnesses
Application
91 Application
and general interpretation of Part 11
(1) This Part applies to
criminal proceedings before the Magistrate’s Court and the Royal Court.
(2) In this
Part –
“oath” includes a solemn affirmation made in accordance
with the Solemn Affirmations Law;
“spouse” means husband or wife;
“witness summons” shall be construed in accordance with Article 93.
Competence and compellability of witnesses
92 Competence of defendant and witnesses to give evidence
(1) Except as provided
under paragraphs (3) and (4), at every stage in criminal proceedings all
persons are (whatever their age) competent to give evidence.
(2) A defendant is
competent to give evidence in support of his or her defence, provided he or she
agrees to do so, but the failure of a defendant, to give evidence shall not be
made the subject of any adverse comment by the prosecution.
(3) A person (including a
defendant) is not competent to give evidence in criminal proceedings if it
appears to the court that he or she is not a person who is able to –
(a) understand
questions put to him or her as a witness; and
(b) give
answers to them which can be understood.
(4) A defendant is not competent
to give evidence for the prosecution (whether he or she is the only defendant,
or is one of two or more defendants charged in the same proceedings).
(5) In paragraph (4)
the reference to a defendant does not include a person who is not, or is no longer,
liable to be convicted of any offence in the proceedings (whether as a result
of pleading guilty or for any other reason).
93 Determining competence of witnesses
(1) The Bailiff or
Magistrate (as the case may be) shall determine, in accordance with this
Article, any question as to whether a witness is competent to give evidence in criminal
proceedings, whether raised –
(a) by a
party to the proceedings; or
(b) by
the court of its own motion.
(2) It is for the party
calling the witness to satisfy the court that, on a balance of probabilities,
the witness is competent to give evidence in the proceedings.
(3) In determining the question
mentioned in paragraph (1) the court shall treat the witness as having the
benefit of any special measures ordered, or proposed to be ordered, under
Article 101, in relation to the witness.
(4) Expert evidence may, with
leave of the court, be received on the question.
(5) Any questioning of the
witness (where the court considers that necessary) shall be conducted by the court
in the presence of the parties.
94 Compellability
of witnesses related to defendant to give evidence
(1) Subject to the
provisions of this Article, the following persons are compellable to give
evidence as witnesses on behalf of the prosecution or defence –
(a) the
blood relatives of a defendant;
(b) the
relatives by adoption of a defendant; or
(c) the relatives
either by marriage or by the formation of a civil partnership of a defendant.
(2) Subject to paragraph (4),
the spouse or civil partner of a defendant is compellable to give evidence on
behalf of the defence or any other defendant charged in the same proceedings.
(3) Subject to paragraph (4),
the spouse or civil partner of a defendant is compellable to give evidence on
behalf of the prosecution or any other defendant charged in the same
proceedings on condition the offence is an offence specified in Schedule 1.
(4) Where a spouse or civil
partner of a defendant is jointly charged with the defendant in respect of an
offence, neither the spouse nor civil partner (as the case may be) shall at the
trial be compellable by virtue of paragraph (2) or (3) and Schedule 1
to give evidence in respect of that charge unless that spouse or that civil
partner (as the case may be) is not, or is no longer, liable to be convicted of
the said offence in the proceedings whether as a result of pleading guilty, or
for any other reason.
(5) A person who has been
but who is no longer married to a defendant, or who has been but is no longer the
civil partner of a defendant, shall be compellable to give evidence as if that
person and the defendant had never been married, or had never been in a civil
partnership.
(6) The failure of a spouse
or civil partner of a defendant, to give evidence shall not be made the subject
of any adverse comment by the prosecution.
Giving of sworn or unsworn evidence
95 Determining whether witness to be sworn
(1) Subject to the
provisions of this Article and Article 96, a witness who is competent to
give oral evidence in criminal proceedings shall give that oral evidence on
oath.
(2) Any question whether a
witness may be sworn for the purpose of giving evidence on oath, whether
raised –
(a) by a
party to the proceedings; or
(b) by
the court of its own motion,
shall be determined by the Bailiff or Magistrate (as the case may
be) in accordance with this Article.
(3) Expert evidence may,
with leave of the court, be received on the question.
(4) The witness may not be
sworn for the purpose of giving evidence on oath unless –
(a) he or
she has attained the age of 14; and
(b) he or
she has a sufficient appreciation of the solemnity of the occasion and of the
particular responsibility to tell the truth which is involved in taking an
oath.
(5) The witness shall, if
he or she is able to give intelligible testimony, be presumed to have a
sufficient appreciation of those matters if no evidence tending to show the
contrary is adduced by any party.
(6) If any such evidence is
adduced, it is for the party seeking to have the witness sworn to satisfy the
court that, on a balance of probabilities, the witness has attained the age
of 14 and has a sufficient appreciation of the matters mentioned in
paragraph (4)(b).
(7) Any questioning of the
witness (where the court considers that necessary) shall be conducted by the
court in the presence of the parties.
(8) For the purposes of
this Article a person is able to give intelligible testimony if he or she is
able to –
(a) understand
questions put to him or her as a witness; and
(b) give
answers to them which can be understood.
96 Receiving
of unsworn evidence
(1) This paragraph applies
to a witness (of any age) who –
(a) is
competent to give evidence in criminal proceedings; but
(b) by
virtue of Article 95(4) is not permitted to be sworn for the purpose of
giving evidence on oath in such proceedings.
(2) The evidence in criminal
proceedings of a witness to whom paragraph (1) applies shall be given
unsworn.
(3) A deposition of unsworn
evidence given by a person to whom paragraph (1) applies may be taken for
the purposes of criminal proceedings as if that evidence had been given on
oath.
(4) The court shall
accordingly receive in evidence any evidence given unsworn in accordance with
paragraph (2) or (3).
(5) Where a witness who is
competent to give evidence in criminal proceedings gives evidence in such
proceedings unsworn, no appeal against conviction or sentence shall be allowed by
reason only that it appears to the Royal Court or Court of Appeal that the
witness was a person falling within Article 95(4) (and should accordingly
have given his or her evidence on oath).
Requirement of witnesses to attend court
97 Warning
of witnesses as to attendance at court
(1) Where a person has made
a written statement in accordance with Article 9 of the Criminal Justice (Evidence
and Procedure) (Jersey) Law 1998, a person authorized by
the Attorney General may warn that person, in writing, or by attending upon him
or her in person, to attend before the court to give oral evidence on the day
and at the time so warned.
(2) A person who, without
reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a warning given under
paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence punishable with a fine of
level 3 on the standard scale.
(3) It shall be for the
person to prove that he or she had a reasonable excuse for his or her failure
to comply with the warning.
(4) The court may order the
arrest of a person who fails to attend before the court on the day and at the
time so warned, and a person so arrested may be remanded by the court, in
custody or on bail, until such time as the court may appoint for receiving his
or her evidence.
98 Issue
of witness summons on application to the court
(1) This Article applies
where the court is satisfied that a person is likely to be able to give
evidence in support of a party applying for a witness summons under this
Article if –
(a) the
evidence is likely to be material evidence, or the person can produce any
document or thing likely to be material evidence, for the purpose of any
criminal proceedings before the court;
(b) there
is reason to believe that person will fail to attend court to give evidence; and
(c) it is
in the interests of justice to issue a summons under this Article to secure the
attendance of that person to give evidence or to produce the document or thing.
(2) Where the court is so
satisfied it shall, subject to the following provisions of this Article, issue
a witness summons directed to the person concerned and requiring him or her
to –
(a) attend
before the court at the time and place stated in the witness summons; and
(b) give
the evidence or produce the document or thing.
(3) Subject to
paragraph (4), a witness summons may only be issued under this Article
where a party –
(a) has
given notice to the court and any other party to the proceedings of a proposed
application for a witness summons; and
(b) has
applied in writing to the court for the issue of a witness summons.
(4) The court may dispense
with the requirement for a written application for a witness summons, unless the
proposed application for a witness summons requires the proposed
witness –
(a) to
produce in evidence a document or thing that relates to another person; or
(b) to
give evidence about information apparently held in confidence, that relates to
another person.
(5) Subject to
paragraph (5A), a party who wants the court to issue a witness summons
must apply as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the existence of anything
referred to paragraph (1)(a), that would satisfy the court.[28]
(5A) Where the proceedings were
initiated under Article 14(1A), a party who wants the court to issue a
witness summons must apply as soon as practicable after the Attorney General
has been granted leave of the court under Article 81A(1) to progress the
proceedings.[29]
(6) A party applying for a
witness summons must –
(a) indicate
when that party first became aware of the existence of anything referred to in paragraph (1);
(b) identify
the proposed witness;
(c) explain –
(i) what
evidence the proposed witness can give or produce,
(ii) why
it is likely to be material evidence, and
(iii) why
there is reason to believe that the witness will fail to attend court to give
evidence,
(iv) why
it would be in the interests of justice to issue a summons; and
(d) identify,
in relation to sub-paragraph (c), any specific document or thing the
proposed witness should be required to bring to court.[30]
(7) The court may refuse to
issue a witness summons if any of the requirements of this Article are not
fulfilled.
(8) Where the court decides
to issue a witness summons under this Article, that summons may be served in
accordance with the court’s directions.
(9) Where the court does
not issue any directions as to service of the witness summons, it shall be
sufficient for the summons to be served on the witness personally or left at
his or her last known address.
(10) Service of the witness
summons shall be effected by the Viscount, an officer of the States of Jersey
Police Force or a person authorized in writing by the States of Jersey Police Force.
(11) Criminal Procedure Rules
shall make provision as to the form, content, notice period and service of any
notice given under this Article.
99 Consequences
of failure to comply with witness summons
(1) A person who, without
reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a witness summons by failing
to –
(a) attend
before the court at the time and place stated in the summons; or
(b) give
the evidence or produce the document or thing specified in the summons,
shall be guilty of contempt of court.
(2) It shall be for the
person to prove that he or she had a reasonable excuse for his or her failure
to comply with the summons.
(3) The court may order the
arrest of a person who fails to attend before the court at the time and place
stated in the summons, and a person so arrested may be remanded by the court,
in custody or on bail, until such time as the court may appoint for receiving his
or her evidence.
Special measures
100 Eligibility
of witness for special measures
(1) This
Article applies in relation to the giving of evidence by an eligible witness in
criminal proceedings.
(2) In
this Article and in Article 101 –
(a) “special
measures” –
(i) means
any form of individual assistance, facilitation or support specifically
tailored to meet the needs of an eligible witness, whether such measures are
applied individually or in combination and which would, in the opinion of the
court, be likely to improve the quality of evidence given by that witness,
(ii) without
limiting the generality of the measures described in clause (i), includes
any measures which would enable a witness to give his or her evidence in chief,
or under cross-examination, before the commencement of the trial;
(b) subject
to paragraph (3), “eligible witness” means a person who at the
time of the trial –
(i) is
under the age of 18, or
(ii) is
aged 18 or older and –
(A) suffers
from mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Law,
(B) has
a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning,
(C) has
a physical disability or is suffering from a physical disorder,
(D) is or is
expected to be off the Island, or
(E) the
court is satisfied that the quality of evidence given by the witness is likely
to be diminished by reason of fear or distress on the part of the witness in
connection with testifying in the proceedings.
(3) Except
in relation to paragraph (2)(b)(ii)(D) and (E) a witness includes a
defendant who gives evidence on his or her own behalf.
(4) References
in this Article and in Article 101 to the quality of a witness’s
evidence are to its quality in terms of completeness, coherence and accuracy;
and for this purpose “coherence” refers to a witness’s
ability in giving evidence to give answers which address the questions put to
the witness and can be understood both individually and collectively.
(5) In
determining whether a witness falls within paragraph (2)(b)(ii)(C) the
court must consider any views expressed by the witness.
(6) In
determining whether a witness falls within paragraph (2)(b)(ii)(E) the
court must take into account, in particular –
(a) the nature and alleged
circumstances of the offence to which the proceedings relate;
(b) the age of the witness;
(c) any such other matters
as appear to the court to be relevant, including –
(i) the
social and cultural background and ethnic origins of the witness,
(ii) the
domestic and employment circumstances of the witness, and
(iii) any
religious beliefs or political opinions of the witness;
(d) any behaviour towards
the witness on the part of –
(i) the
defendant,
(ii) members
of the family or associates of the defendant, or
(iii) any
other person who is likely to be a defendant or witness in the proceedings.
(7) For
the purpose of a determination under paragraph (6), the court must in
addition consider any views expressed by the witness.
101 Power of the
court to order special measures
(1) The
court may order the provision of special measures –
(a) of its own motion; or
(b) on the application of a
party to the proceedings in relation to a witness in the proceedings.
(2) Where
the court determines under Article 100 that a witness is eligible for
assistance by way of special measures, the court must then –
(a) determine whether any
of the special measures reasonably or practically available in relation to the
witness (or any combination of them) would, in its opinion, be likely to
improve the quality of evidence given by the witness; and
(b) if so –
(i) determine
which of those measures (or combination of them) would, in its opinion, be
likely to maximise so far as practicable the quality of such evidence, and
(ii) order
the provision of the measure or measures so determined to apply to evidence
given by the witness.
(3) In
determining, for the purposes of paragraph (2), whether any special
measure would or would not be likely to improve, or to maximise so far as
practicable, the quality of evidence given by the witness, the court must
consider all the circumstances of the case, including in
particular –
(a) any views expressed by
the witness; and
(b) whether the measure or
measures might tend to inhibit such evidence being effectively tested by a
party to the proceedings.
(4) Notwithstanding
paragraph (1), and regardless of whether or not a defendant is determined
to be an eligible witness under Article 100, a defendant may apply in
writing to the court for such special measures as will assist him or her in
understanding and following the case or for giving instructions to his or her
legal representatives.
(5) Regardless
of whether or not the court receives an application under paragraph (4),
or where the defendant is unrepresented, the court may, in the interests of
justice, order the provision of such special measures as it considers necessary
to assist the defendant.
(6) An
order under this Article must specify particulars of the provision to be made
in respect of each special measure which is to apply to the witness’s or,
in the case of paragraph (4), the defendant’s evidence.
(7) Nothing
in this Article shall be taken as preventing the court from making an order or
giving leave of any description –
(a) in relation to a witness who is not an eligible witness; or
(b) in relation to an eligible witness where (as, for example, in a
case where a foreign language interpreter is to be provided) the order is made
or the leave is given otherwise than by reason of the fact that the witness is
an eligible witness.
(8) An
application under paragraph (1)(b) may be made orally or in writing and Criminal
Procedure Rules may make further provision for or in connection with such an
application.
(9) The
States may, by Regulations, make such further or supplementary provision as may
be necessary or expedient for the purposes of any special measures which may be
ordered under this Article including provision as to –
(a) the
nature or description of such special measures;
(b) any
specified circumstances in which special measures may, or may not be ordered;
(c) any
specified circumstances in which special measures of a particular description
must be ordered; or
(d) the
manner or form in which special measures may be delivered or implemented.
102 Power to
hear witnesses elsewhere than in court
Where a witness is, by reason of illness or being off the Island,
unable to attend before the court to give evidence, the court may adjourn elsewhere
to receive the witness’ evidence and, in such case, the normal practice
and procedure of the court shall be followed.
Protection of witnesses from cross-examination
by unrepresented defendant
103 Defendant
charged with certain offences – prohibition of cross-examination by defendant
in person
(1) For the purposes of
this Article “witness” means –
(a) a
complainant;
(b) a
person under the age of 18; or
(c) a
person aged 18 or older who –
(i) suffers
from mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Law, or
(ii) has
a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning.
(2) No defendant charged
with an offence to which this Article applies may cross-examine, in person, a
witness, either –
(a) in
connection with that offence; or
(b) in
connection with any other offence (of whatever nature) with which that
defendant is charged in the proceedings.
(3) The offences to which
this Article applies are –
(a) the
customary law offences of false imprisonment; gross indecency; incest; indecent
assault; indecent exposure; kidnapping; manslaughter; murder; rape and sodomy;
(b) an
offence under any of the following Articles of the Loi (1895) modifiant le
droit criminel –
(i) Article 1.1
(procuring any woman or girl by threats for unlawful carnal connection),
(ii) Article 1.2
(procuring a woman or girl by false pretences for unlawful carnal connexion, or
causing a woman or girl to have unlawful carnal connexion with a third person),
(iii) Article 1.3
(administering drugs for the purposes of unlawful carnal connexion with a woman
or girl),
(iv) Article 2
(unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 13),
(v) Article 4.1
(unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl aged 13 but under the age of 16
or a mentally impaired girl or woman), and
(vi) Article 5
(permitting girls under the age of 16 to frequent premises for the
purposes of prostitution);
(c) an
offence under Article 2 (indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of
children) of the Protection of Children
(Jersey) Law 1994;
(d) an
offence under any of the following Articles of the Sexual Offences (Jersey)
Law 2007 –
(i) Article 2
(meeting a child following sexual grooming etc.),
(ii) Article 3
(abuse of position of trust: sexual activity with a child),
(iii) Article 4
(abuse of position of trust: causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual
activity),
(iv) Article 5
(abuse of position of trust: sexual activity in the presence of a child), and
(v) Article 6
(abuse of position of trust: causing a child to watch a sexual act);
(e) any
sexual offence under Articles 74 to 76 of the Mental Health Law
(ea) an offence
under the Sexual Offences (Jersey)
Law 2018;
(eb) an offence
under Article 3 or 10 of the Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Law 2022; and
(f) any
offence (not within any of the preceding sub-paragraphs) which involves an
assault on, or injury or a threat of injury to any person.[31]
(4) The States may, by
Regulations, amend this Article for the purposes of amending the offences
listed in paragraph (3).
104 Order
prohibiting defendant in person from cross-examining witness
(1) This Article applies in
a case where Article 103 does not operate so as to prevent a defendant
from cross-examining, in person, a witness.
(2) In a case to which this
Article applies –
(a) the
prosecutor may make an application to the court for an order under this Article
in relation to a witness; or
(b) the
court may, of its own motion, make an order under this Article in relation to a
witness.
(3) The court may make an
order prohibiting the defendant from cross-examining (or further cross-examining),
in person, the witness if it appears to the court –
(a) that
the quality of evidence given by the witness on cross-examination –
(i) is
likely to be diminished if the cross-examination (or further cross-examination)
is conducted by the defendant in person, and
(ii) would
be likely to be improved if an order were given under this Article; and
(b) that
it would not be contrary to the interests of justice to make such an order.
(4) In determining whether
paragraph (3)(a) applies in the case of a witness, the court must have
regard, in particular, to –
(a) any
views expressed by the witness as to whether or not the witness is content to
be cross-examined by the defendant in person;
(b) the
nature of the questions likely to be asked, having regard to the issues in the
proceedings and the defence case advanced so far (if any);
(c) any
behaviour on the part of the defendant at any stage of the proceedings, both
generally and in relation to the witness;
(d) any
relationship (of whatever nature) between the witness and the defendant;
(e) whether
any person (other than the defendant) is or has at any time been charged in the
proceedings with a sexual offence or an offence to which Article 103
applies, and (if so) whether Article 103 operates or would have operated
to prevent that person from cross-examining the witness in person; and
(f) any
order under Article 101 which the court has given, or proposes to give, in
relation to the witness.
(5) For the purposes of
this Article –
(a) “witness”,
in relation to a defendant, does not include any other person who is charged
with an offence in the proceedings; and
(b) any
reference to the quality of a witness’s evidence shall be construed in
accordance with Article 100(4).
Cross-examination on behalf of the defendant
105 Defendant’s
representative for purposes of cross-examination
(1) This Article applies
where a defendant is prevented from cross-examining, in person, a witness by
virtue of Article 103 or 104.
(2) Where it appears to the
court that this Article applies, it must –
(a) invite
the defendant to arrange for an advocate to act for him or her for the purpose
of cross-examining the witness; and
(b) require
the defendant to notify the court, by the end of such period as it may specify,
whether an advocate is to act for him or her for that purpose.[32]
(3) If by the end of the
period mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) either –
(a) the
defendant has notified the court that no advocate is to act for him or her for
the purpose of cross-examining the witness; or
(b) no
notification has been received by the court and it appears to the court that no
advocate is to so act,
the court must consider whether it is necessary in the interests of
justice for the witness to be cross-examined by an advocate appointed to represent
the interests of the defendant.[33]
(4) If the court decides
that it is necessary in the interests of justice for the witness to be so
cross-examined, the court must appoint an advocate (chosen by the court) to
cross-examine the witness in the interests of the defendant.
(5) An advocate so
appointed shall not be responsible to the defendant.
(6) Criminal Procedure Rules
may make provision –
(a) as to
the time when, and the manner in which, paragraph (2) is to be complied
with;
(b) in
connection with the appointment, and payment of costs of an advocate under
paragraph (4), and in particular for securing that a person so appointed
is provided with evidence or other material relating to the proceedings.
(7) For the purposes of
this Article and Article 106, any reference to cross-examination includes
(in a case where an order is made under Article 104 after the defendant
has begun cross-examining the witness) a reference to further
cross-examination.
106 Warning to Jurats
or Jury
Where a defendant before the Royal Court is prevented from
cross-examining, in person, a witness by virtue of Article 103 or 104, the
Bailiff must give the Jurats or jury (as the case may be) such warning as he or
she considers necessary to ensure that the defendant is not prejudiced –
(a) by
any inferences that might be drawn from the fact that the defendant has been
prevented from cross-examining the witness;
(b) where
the witness has been cross-examined by a legal representative appointed under
Article 105(4), by the fact that the cross-examination was carried out by
such a legal representative, and not by a person acting as the defendant’s
own legal representative.
Intimidation of witnesses and jurors
107 Intimidation,
etc. of witnesses, jurors and others
(1) A person commits an
offence (“an offender”) if he or she does an act –
(a) which
intimidates, and is intended to intimidate, another person (“the
victim”);
(b) knowing
or believing that the victim is assisting in the investigation of an offence or
is a witness or potential witness or a juror or potential juror in criminal
proceedings; and
(c) intending
thereby to cause the investigation or the course of justice to be obstructed,
perverted or interfered with.
(2) An offender commits an
offence if –
(a) he or
she does an act –
(i) which
harms, and is intended to harm, another person, or
(ii) intending
to cause another person to fear harm, he or she threatens to do an act which
would harm that other person;
(b) he or
she does or threatens to do the said act knowing or believing that the person
harmed or threatened to be harmed (“the victim”), or some other
person has –
(i) assisted
in an investigation into an offence,
(ii) given
evidence or particular evidence in criminal proceedings, or
(iii) acted
as a juror or concurred in a particular verdict in criminal proceedings; and
(c) he or
she does or threatens to do that act because of that knowledge or belief.
(3) For the purposes of
paragraphs (1) and (2) it is immaterial that the act is or would be done,
or that the threat is made –
(a) otherwise
than in the presence of the victim; or
(b) to a
person other than the victim.
(4) The harm that may be
done to a person, includes –
(a) physical
harm or an intimidatory act;
(b) financial
harm;
(c) harm
to a persons’ property; and
(d) threats.
(5) The intention required
by paragraph (1)(c) and the motive required by paragraph (2)(c) need
not be the only or the primary intention or motive with which the act is done
or, in the case of paragraph (2), threatened.
(6) If, in proceedings
against a person for an offence under paragraph (1), it is proved that he
or she did an act falling within paragraph (1)(a) with the knowledge or
belief required by paragraph (1)(b), he or she shall be presumed, unless
the contrary is proved, to have done the act with the intention required by paragraph (1)(c).
(7) If, in proceedings
against an offender for an offence under paragraph (2), it is proved that
within the relevant period –
(a) he or
she did an act which harmed, and was intended to harm, another person; or
(b) intending
to cause another person fear of harm, he or she threatened to do an act which
would harm that other person,
and that he or she did the act, or (as the case may be) threatened
to do the act, with the knowledge or belief required by paragraph (2)(b), the
offender shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have done the act
or, (as the case may be) threatened to do the act with the motive required by paragraph (2)(c).
(8) An offender guilty of
an offence under this Article shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of
10 years and to a fine.
(9) In this
Article –
“investigation into an offence” means such an
investigation by the police or other person charged with the duty of
investigating offences or charging offenders, and includes any consideration of
an offence by the Attorney General under Part 2 of the Deferred
Prosecution Agreements Law;
“offence” and “offender” includes a
suspected offence or offender;
“potential”, in relation to a juror, means a person who
has been summoned for jury service under Article 64;
“relevant period” –
(a) in
relation to a witness or juror in any criminal proceedings other than
proceedings mentioned in sub-paragraph (aa), means the period beginning
with the formal commencement of the proceedings and ending with the first
anniversary of the conclusion of the trial, or –
(i) if
there is an appeal under Article 33, the determination or abandonment of
the appeal, or
(ii) where
a case is stated under Article 37, the determination of the case in
accordance with Article 38;
(aa) in relation
to a witness or juror in any proceedings initiated in accordance with
Article 14(1A), means the period –
(i) beginning
with the date on which the self-report in relation to the offence specified in
the indictment is submitted to the Attorney General under Article 4 of the
Deferred Prosecution Agreements Law, and
(ii) ending
with the first anniversary of the conclusion of the trial;
(b) in
relation to a person who has, or is believed by the offender to have, assisted
in an investigation into an offence, but was not also a witness in criminal
proceedings, means the period of one year beginning with any act of that person,
or any act believed by the offender to be an act of that person assisting in
the investigation; and
(c) in
relation to a person who both has, or is believed by the offender to have,
assisted in the investigation into an offence and was a witness in criminal proceedings,
means the period beginning with any act of that person, or any act believed by
the offender to be an act of that person assisting in the investigation and
ending with the anniversary mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or
sub-paragraph (aa) (as the case may be).[34]
(10) For the purposes of the
definition of the relevant period in paragraph (9) –
(a) criminal
proceedings are formally commenced when a summons is issued under Article 14
or 19;
(b) a
trial is concluded with the occurrence of any of the following –
(i) the
discontinuance of the proceedings under Article 80,
(ii) the
discharge of the jury without a verdict under Article 75(8),
(iii) the
acquittal of a defendant or the sentencing of, or other dealing with, a
defendant for the offence of which he or she was convicted;
“self-report” has
the meaning given in Article 4(2) of the Deferred Prosecution Agreements
Law.[35]
(11) This Article is in addition
to, and not in derogation of, any offence subsisting under customary law.
PART 12
COSTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS[36]
108 Provisions
as to costs incurred because of act or omission
(1) In any case where the
court is satisfied that one party to criminal proceedings has incurred costs as
a result of an unnecessary or improper act or omission by, or on behalf of,
another party to the proceedings, the court may make an order as to the payment
of those costs.
(2) Criminal Procedure
Rules may make further provision regarding costs ordered under this Article.
109 Wasted costs
against defence or prosecution
(1) In criminal proceedings,
the court may order the defence or prosecution to meet, the whole of any wasted
costs or such part of them as the court may determine.
(2) The States may, by
Regulations, make further provision as to the court’s determination of
costs for the purposes of an order under paragraph (1), including in
relation to cases of a particular description.
(3) Where an order is made
by –
(a) the
Magistrate under paragraph (1), the defence or prosecution may appeal to
the Royal Court; or
(b) the
Royal Court under paragraph (1), the defence or prosecution may appeal to
the Court of Appeal.
(4) In this
Article “wasted costs” means any costs incurred by a
party –
(a) as a
result of any improper, unreasonable or negligent act or omission on the part
of the defence or prosecution; or
(b) which,
in the light of any such act or omission occurring after they were incurred,
the court considers it is unreasonable to expect that party to pay.
110 Provision
for award of costs against third parties
(1) The States may by Regulations
make provision empowering the court to make a third party costs order if the
condition in paragraph (3) is satisfied.
(2) A “third party
costs order” is an order as to the payment of costs incurred by a party
to criminal proceedings by a person who is not a party to those proceedings
(“the third party”).
(3) The condition is
that –
(a) there
has been serious misconduct (whether or not constituting a contempt of court)
by the third party; and
(b) the
court considers it appropriate, having regard to that misconduct, to make a
third party costs order against that third party.
(4) Regulations under this
Article may, in particular –
(a) specify
types of misconduct in respect of which a third party costs order may not be
made;
(b) allow
the making of a third party costs order at any time;
(c) make
provision for any other order as to costs which has been made in respect of the
proceedings to be varied on, or taken account of in, the making of a third
party costs order;
(d) make
provision for account to be taken of any third party costs order in the making
of any other order as to costs in respect of the proceedings.
(5) Regulations under this
Article in relation to the Magistrate or Royal Court must provide that the third
party may appeal to –
(a) the Royal
Court against a third party costs order made by the Magistrate; and
(b) the
Court of Appeal against a third party costs order made by the Royal Court.
part 13
establishment
and functions of the criminal procedure rules committee
111 Criminal
Procedure Rules Committee
(1) There
are to be rules of court (to be called “Criminal Procedure Rules”)
governing the practice and procedure to be followed in criminal proceedings.
(2) Criminal
Procedure Rules are to be made by a committee known as the Criminal Procedure
Rules Committee.
(3) The
Criminal Procedure Rules Committee shall be chaired by the Bailiff or, in his
or her absence, the Deputy Bailiff, who shall both be members of the Committee.
(4) The
Criminal Procedure Rules Committee shall also consist of the following
members –
(a) the
Attorney General or a person nominated by the Attorney General;
(b) the
Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police Force or a person nominated by
that Chief Officer;
(c) the
Judicial Greffier or a person nominated by the Judicial Greffier;
(d) the
Magistrate or a person nominated by the Magistrate;
(e) the
person who is the senior délégué or a person nominated by that délégué;
(f) the
Viscount or a person nominated by the Viscount;
(g) an
advocate nominated by the Bâtonnier who has particular experience of
practice in criminal proceedings; and
(h) a
person nominated by the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs.[37]
(5) Before
nominating a person under paragraph (4), the Bailiff must first be
consulted.
(6) A
person shall be nominated for such period as may be specified by the person who
has nominated him or her.
(7) The
Criminal Procedure Rules Committee may, subject to a quorum of not less than 5
members, meet for the conduct of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate its meetings
as it thinks fit.
(8) The
Criminal Procedure Rules Committee must, before making Criminal Procedure
Rules –
(a) consult
such persons as it considers appropriate; and
(b) meet
(unless it is inexpedient to do so).
(9) Criminal
Procedure Rules –
(a) must
be signed by not less than 5 members of
the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee;
(b) shall
come into force on such day or days as the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee
directs; and
(c) [38]
(10) The
States may, by Regulations, amend the members of the Committee listed in paragraph (4).
112 Criminal Procedure Rules
(1) Criminal
Procedure Rules may be made by the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee for any
of the following –
(a) for
regulating and prescribing the procedure and the practice to be followed in any
proceedings under this Law (including the procedure and practice to be followed
by the Viscount and the Judicial Greffier) and any matters incidental to or
relating to any such procedure or practice, including (but without prejudice to
the generality of the foregoing) the manner in which, and the time within
which, any applications which under this Law or any enactment are to be made to
the court shall be made;
(b) for
regulating the sittings of the court and its judges whether sitting in court or
elsewhere;
(c) for
prescribing the jurisdiction of the Inferior Number and Superior Number in
relation to the sentencing of a defendant;
(d) for
regulating the means or timing of service, or lodging,
of any application, indictment, notice, order, order for the arrest of a person,
summons or other instrument or document, issued under this Law or under
Criminal Procedure Rules;
(e) for
prescribing forms to be used for the purposes of this Law;
(f) for
regulating any matters relating to the costs of proceedings before the court;
(g) for
regulating the means by which particular facts may be proved, and the mode in
which evidence thereof may be given, in any proceedings or on any application
in connection with or at any stage of any proceedings;
(h) for
prescribing the details of the prosecution’s case against a person which,
under the provisions of this Law, or in the exercise of case management powers,
are to be served on a person who is charged with, or is
to be charged with, or in connection with,
an offence;
(i) for
regulating and prescribing the procedure on appeal from the Magistrate’s
Court, or where a case is stated by the Magistrate;
(j) for
regulating or making provision with respect to any other matters which may
require to be regulated or with respect to which provision may require to be
made under this Law.
(2) The
power to make Criminal Procedure Rules –
(a) is to
be exercised with a view to securing that –
(i) the criminal
justice system is accessible, fair and efficient, and
(ii) the
rules are both simple and simply expressed; and
(b) includes
power to –
(i) make different
provision for different cases, including different provision for a specified
court or specified descriptions of proceedings,
(ii) make
such consequential, incidental, supplementary, transitional, transitory or saving
provision which appear to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the
Rules, and
(iii) make rules
as to proceedings by or against the Crown.
(3) The
Criminal Procedure Rules Committee may make Criminal Procedure Rules in
relation to any matter connected to the following enactments that the Criminal
Procedure Rules Committee sees appropriate –
(a) the Criminal Justice (Community Service Orders) (Jersey) Law 2001;
(aa) the Deferred
Prosecution Agreements Law;
(b) the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) (Jersey) Law 2001;
(c) the Criminal Justice (Suspension of Prison Sentences) (Jersey)
Law 2003;
(d) the Dogs (Jersey) Law 1961;
(e) the Drug Trafficking Offences (Enforcement of Confiscation Orders)
(Jersey) Regulations 2008;
(f) the
Electronic Communications (Jersey) Law 2000;
(g) the Extradition (Jersey) Law 2004;
(h) the
Geneva Conventions Act (Jersey) Order 1966;
(i) the
Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000;
(j) the
International Criminal Court (Jersey) Law 2014;
(k) the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016;
(l) the
Proceeds of Crime (Enforcement of Confiscation Orders) (Jersey)
Regulations 2008;
(m) the Proceeds of Crime (Jersey) Law 1999;
(n) the Repatriation of Prisoners (Jersey) Law 2012;
(o) the Sex Offenders (Jersey) Law 2010;
(p) the Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 2018;
(q) the Terrorism (Jersey) Law 2002;
(r) the
Trade Marks (Jersey) Law 2000.[39]
113 Practice
directions
(1) The
Bailiff or Magistrate may, from time to time, issue directions as to the
practice or procedure to be followed by the participants in criminal
proceedings (“practice directions”) where either no provision has
been made in Criminal Procedure Rules or, subject to paragraph (2), so as
to complement any such Rules.
(2) Practice
directions issued under this Article must not be inconsistent with any Criminal
Procedure Rules which may otherwise apply.
(3) Practice
directions must be kept under review and, as necessary, must be replaced,
revoked or amended.
(4) Practice
directions may be published in such manner or form as the Bailiff or Magistrate
considers appropriate.
(5) Paragraph (6)
applies where it appears to the court when conducting criminal proceedings,
that –
(a) a
provision of a practice direction; or
(b) a
failure to comply with a practice direction,
is relevant to a question
arising in those proceedings.
(6) Where
this paragraph applies, the relevant provision or failure must be taken into
account in determining the question, but a failure to comply with a practice
direction shall not of itself make a person liable to any civil or criminal
proceedings.
PART
14
MISCELLANEOUS AND CLOSING PROVISIONS
114 Quashing of
acquittal and retrial
Schedule 2 provides for the procedures to be followed in
relation to an application to the Court of Appeal to quash a person’s
acquittal in respect of an offence, and that person’s subsequent retrial.
115 Regulations
(1) The States may, by
Regulations, amend any enactment, including this Law, for the purpose of making
such transitional, consequential, incidental, supplementary or savings
provisions as they consider necessary or expedient in consequence of any
provision made by or under this Law.
(2) Any Regulations under
this Law may contain such transitional, consequential, incidental or
supplementary provisions as appear to the States to be expedient for the
purposes of the Regulations.
(3) A power to make
Regulations under this Law for the purpose of amending a provision of this Law,
includes the power to make such transitional, consequential, incidental or
supplementary amendments to any other provision of this Law as appears to the
States to be necessary or expedient.
116 [40]
117 [41]
118 [42]
119 Citation and commencement
This Law may be cited as the Criminal Procedure (Jersey)
Law 2018 and shall come into force on such day or days as the States may
by Act appoint.