8 October 2012 UTC A magistrate is perfectly able to grant bail to a suspect charged with murder Section 4 of the Bail Act 1976 provides that bail shall be granted to a A person accused of an offence who appears before a magistrates court or the Crown Court in connection with proceedings for the offence b A person accused of an offence who applies to a court for bail in connection with the proceedings c A person who having been convicted of an offence appears before a magistrates court to be dealt with for breach of a probation or community service order d A person who has been convicted of an offence and whose case has been adjourned for reports to be obtained before sentence Section 4 applies whether a person appears before a magistrates court or the Crown Court Schedule 1 to the Act outlines the circumstances under which the magistrate may choose to refuse bail 21 49