Source: http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/fragview/inforce/act+209+1986+ch.3+2012-01-06+N
Timestamp: 2015-01-28 18:13:38
Document Index: 480504646

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art.132', 'art 7', 'art 2', 'art 7', 'art 5', 'art.166', 'art.169']

Historical version for 6 January 2012 to 20 March 2012 (accessed 29 January 2015 at 05:13) Current version
Chapter 3 Indictable procedurePart 1 Preliminary45 Application of Chapter and definitions(1) This Chapter applies to or in respect of proceedings for indictable offences (other than indictable offences being dealt with summarily).(2) In this Chapter:Judge includes a Magistrate.Magistrate includes a Children’s Court Magistrate and any other person of a class prescribed for the purposes of this definition.registrar means, for the purposes of Part 2:(a) in the case of committal proceedings before a Local Court Magistrate, a registrar of the Local Court, or
(b) in the case of committal proceedings before a Children’s Court Magistrate, the Children’s Registrar appointed under the Children’s Court Act 1987.
46 Jurisdiction of courts(1) The Supreme Court has jurisdiction in respect of all indictable offences.(2) The District Court has jurisdiction in respect of all indictable offences, other than such offences as may be prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.Part 2 Committal proceedingsDivision 1 Commencement of proceedings47 Commencement of committal proceedings by court attendance notice(1) Committal proceedings for an offence are to be commenced by the issue and filing of a court attendance notice in accordance with this Division.(2) A court attendance notice may be issued in respect of a person if the person has committed or is suspected of having committed an offence.(3) A court attendance notice may be issued in respect of any offence for which proceedings may be taken in this State, including an offence committed elsewhere than in this State.(4) Nothing in this Part affects any law or practice relating to indictments presented or filed in the Supreme Court or the District Court by the Attorney General or the Director of Public Prosecutions.(5) If an Act or a statutory rule provides for committal proceedings to be commenced otherwise than by issuing and filing a court attendance notice, the proceedings may be commenced in accordance with this Act.48 Commencement of proceedings by police officer or public officerIf a police officer or public officer is authorised under section 14 of this Act or under any other law to commence committal proceedings, the officer may commence committal proceedings for an offence against a person by issuing a court attendance notice and filing the notice in accordance with this Division.49 Commencement of private prosecutions(1) If a person other than a police officer or public officer is authorised under section 14 of this Act or under any other law to commence committal proceedings against a person for an offence, the person may commence the proceedings by issuing a court attendance notice, signed by a registrar, and filing the notice in accordance with this Division.(2) A registrar must not sign a court attendance notice if:(a) the registrar is of the opinion that the notice does not disclose grounds for the proceedings, or
(3) If a registrar refuses to sign a court attendance notice proposed to be issued by any such person, the question of whether the court attendance notice is to be signed and issued is to be determined by a Magistrate on application by the person.50 Form of court attendance notice(1) A court attendance notice must be in writing and be in the form prescribed by the rules.(2) The rules may prescribe one or more forms of court attendance notice.(3) A court attendance notice must do the following:(a) describe the offence,
(4) The rules may prescribe additional matters to be included in court attendance notices.(5) A court attendance notice may describe an offence, act or other thing in any way that is sufficient under this Act for the purposes of an indictment or an averment in an indictment.51 (Repealed)52 Service of court attendance notices(1) A court attendance notice issued by a police officer must be served by a police officer or prosecutor in accordance with the rules.(2) A court attendance notice issued by a public officer must be served by a police officer, public officer or other person prescribed by the rules, in accordance with the rules.(3) A court attendance notice issued by a person other than a police officer or public officer must be served by a person prescribed by the rules in accordance with the rules.(4) A copy of a court attendance notice must be filed in the registry of a court in accordance with the rules.(5) (Repealed)53 When proceedings commence(1) All proceedings are taken to have commenced on the date on which a court attendance notice is filed in the registry of a relevant court in accordance with this Division.(2) (Repealed)(3) Nothing in this section affects any other Act or law under which proceedings are taken to have commenced on another date.54 Attendance of accused person at proceedings(1) A person who issues a court attendance notice may, at any time after the notice is issued and before the date on which the accused person is required to first attend before a Magistrate for the hearing of committal proceedings, apply for a warrant to arrest the accused person.(2) An authorised officer may, when a court attendance notice is issued by the registrar, or filed in the court, or at any time after then and before the matter is first before a Magistrate, issue a warrant to arrest the accused person if the authorised officer is satisfied there are substantial reasons to do so and that it is in the interests of justice to do so.(3) The rules may make provision for or with respect to matters that may be taken into account by an authorised officer in determining whether to issue a warrant under this section.(3A) If an accused person is not present at the day, time and place set down for the hearing of committal proceedings (including any day to which proceedings are adjourned), or absconds from the committal proceedings, the Magistrate may issue a warrant to arrest the accused person if the Magistrate is satisfied there are substantial reasons to do so and that it is in the interests of justice to do so.(4) A Magistrate or authorised officer before whom an accused person is brought on arrest on a warrant issued under this section may, if bail is not dispensed with or granted, issue a warrant:(a) committing the accused person to a correctional centre or other place of security, and
(5) The Magistrate or authorised officer must give notice of the date, time and place to the prosecutor.Division 2 Committal proceedings generally55 Magistrate to conduct proceedingsCommittal proceedings are to be conducted and determined by a Magistrate.56 Committal proceedings to be heard in open court(1) Committal proceedings are to be heard as if in open court.(2) This section is subject to any other Act or law.(3) For the purpose only of facilitating the use of an electronic case management system established under the Electronic Transactions Act 2000 in committal proceedings, the hearing of a matter may be conducted in the absence of the public, with the consent of the parties to the proceedings concerned, if the matter:(a) arises after the first appearance of the accused person in committal proceedings, and
(b) is of a procedural nature, and
(c) does not require the resolution of a disputed issue, and
(d) does not involve a person giving oral evidence.
57 Part does not affect nature of committal proceedingsNothing in this Part alters the nature of a committal proceeding from that existing immediately before the commencement of this section.58 Place of hearing(1) A Magistrate may transfer committal proceedings to another Magistrate in another place, if satisfied that:(a) the principal witnesses to prove the offence live in another place where the offence is alleged to have been committed, or
(b) for any other reason, it is in the interests of justice to do so.
(2) The Magistrate may, subject to the Bail Act 1978, make orders necessary to enable the accused person to be brought before the other Magistrate and to be dealt with according to law.59 Application of other procedural provisions to committal proceedingsThe following provisions of this Act apply, subject to any necessary modifications, to committal proceedings conducted by a Magistrate in the same way as they apply to proceedings for offences before the Local Court:(a) sections 30, 31, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 44,
(b) Part 3 (Attendance of witnesses and production of evidence in lower courts) of Chapter 4,
(c) Part 4 (Warrants) of Chapter 4.
60 Time for taking prosecution evidence(1) On the first return date for a court attendance notice in any committal proceedings, or at such later time or times as the Magistrate determines, the Magistrate must set:(a) the date, time and place for taking the prosecution evidence and the time within which written statements, and copies of any proposed exhibits identified in the statements (or a notice relating to inspection of them), must be served on the accused person, and
(b) the time within which the accused person must serve on the prosecutor any notice requesting the attendance of a person who made a written statement.
Note. Prosecution evidence is to be given by written statements (see Division 3).(2) The registrar must notify the accused person of the date, time and place, and any other time set by the Magistrate, if the accused person is not present.(3) A registrar may exercise the Magistrate’s functions under this section.61 Discharge of accused person if prosecutor not present for taking of evidence(1) If the prosecutor fails to appear on the day and at the time and place set for taking prosecution evidence in any committal proceedings, the Magistrate must:(a) discharge the accused person as to the offence the subject of the proceedings, or
(b) if the Magistrate thinks it appropriate, adjourn the hearing to a specified time and place.
(2) The adjournment must not exceed 8 days or such longer period as the accused person may consent to.(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the accused person is refused bail (as referred to in section 25 of the Bail Act 1978).Note. Section 25 of the Bail Act 1978 specifies the maximum period for adjournments if bail has been refused.62 Prosecution evidence and initial determination(1) The Magistrate must take the prosecution evidence in accordance with Division 3 and must determine whether the prosecution evidence is capable of satisfying a jury, properly instructed, beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person has committed an indictable offence.(2) The Magistrate must discharge the accused person in relation to the offence if, in any committal proceedings, after all the prosecution evidence is taken and after considering all the evidence before the Magistrate, the Magistrate is not of the opinion that, having regard to all the evidence before the Magistrate, the evidence is capable of satisfying a reasonable jury, properly instructed, beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person has committed an indictable offence.63 Where prosecution evidence sufficient to satisfy jury(1) If in any committal proceedings, after all the prosecution evidence is taken and after considering all the evidence before the Magistrate, the Magistrate is of the opinion that, having regard to all the evidence before the Magistrate, the evidence is capable of satisfying a reasonable jury, properly instructed, beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person has committed an indictable offence, the Magistrate must give the accused person an opportunity to answer the charge and a warning in the form prescribed by the rules.(2) The Magistrate must proceed to take any statement by or any evidence adduced by the accused person in accordance with Division 4.(3) If the accused person is not present, the Magistrate may make a decision under section 64 without complying with subsection (2).(4) If the accused person is a corporation and the corporation appears by a representative, the representative may answer the charge on behalf of the corporation.64 Decision about committalWhen all the prosecution evidence and any defence evidence have been taken in committal proceedings, the Magistrate must consider all the evidence and determine whether or not in his or her opinion, having regard to all the evidence before the Magistrate, there is a reasonable prospect that a reasonable jury, properly instructed, would convict the accused person of an indictable offence.65 Committal(1) If the Magistrate is of the opinion that there is a reasonable prospect that a reasonable jury, properly instructed, would convict the accused person of an indictable offence, the Magistrate must commit the accused person for trial.(2) In the case of an accused person that is a corporation, the Magistrate may, if of that opinion, make an order authorising an indictment to be filed for the offence named in the order or for such other offence as the Attorney General or Director of Public Prosecutions considers proper.(3) The making of an order under subsection (2) is taken to be committal for trial.66 DischargeIf the Magistrate is not of the opinion that there is a reasonable prospect that a reasonable jury, properly instructed, would convict the accused person of an indictable offence, the Magistrate must immediately order the accused person to be discharged in relation to the offence.67 Committal may be set aside by Magistrate(1) An accused person who was not present and, if not present, was not represented when committed for trial may apply to a Magistrate to have an order for the accused person’s committal for trial set aside.(2) The application must be made before the presentation or filing of an indictment against the accused person.(3) The Magistrate may set aside the order for committal for trial and any associated warrant to commit the accused person if the Magistrate is satisfied that good and proper reason is shown for the absence of the accused person or a representative of the accused person and that it is in the interests of justice to do so.68 Accused person may waive committal hearingDespite any other provision of this Part, the Magistrate may, at any time, on the application of the accused person, and with the consent of the prosecutor, commit the accused person for trial.69 Magistrate may end witnesses’ evidenceThe Magistrate may end the examination or cross-examination on any particular matter of any witness giving evidence for the prosecution or the defence in any committal proceedings if he or she is satisfied that further examination or cross-examination on the matter will not help the Magistrate to make the initial determination under section 62 or a decision under section 64.70 Certain evidence may not be excludedA Magistrate in committal proceedings may not exclude evidence on any of the grounds set out in section 90 (Discretion to exclude admissions) or Part 3.11 (Discretions to exclude evidence) of the Evidence Act 1995.Division 3 Prosecution evidence71 Evidence to be taken in presence of accused personThe accused person must be present when prosecution evidence is taken, unless this Division or any other Act or law permits the evidence to be taken in the accused person’s absence.72 Magistrate may excuse accused person from attending(1) The Magistrate may excuse the accused person from attending during the taking of prosecution evidence if satisfied that the accused person will be represented by an Australian legal practitioner while the evidence is taken or if satisfied that the evidence is not applicable to the accused person.(2) A period during which the accused person is so excused is taken to be an adjournment for the purposes of dealing with the accused person.73 Other circumstances in which evidence may be taken in absence of accused personEvidence may commence or continue to be taken in the absence of an accused person who has not been excused from attending if:(a) no good and proper reason is shown for the absence of the accused person, and
(d) an offence under section 35 (b) of the Crimes Act 1900 (infliction of grievous bodily harm),
Division 4 Defence evidence97 Evidence for accused person(1) The Magistrate must give the accused person an opportunity to give evidence in the committal proceedings or to call any witness on the accused person’s behalf.(2) An accused person may make full answer and defence. An accused person may give evidence and may examine and cross-examine the witnesses giving evidence for the accused person or for the prosecution, respectively.Note. For other provisions applying to evidence in committal proceedings, see the Evidence Act 1995.98 Other evidence about accused personNothing in this Part prevents the prosecutor from giving in evidence any admission or confession or other statement by the accused person, made at any time, which is by law admissible as evidence against the accused person.Division 5 Procedure if accused person pleads guilty99 Effect of guilty plea(1) An accused person may at any time in committal proceedings plead guilty to the offence concerned. If a person pleads guilty, the provisions of this Division apply.(2) Rejection of a guilty plea does not prevent an accused person from pleading guilty at a later stage in the proceedings.100 Guilty plea may be accepted or rejectedThe Magistrate may accept or reject the guilty plea.101 Effect of rejection of guilty pleaIf the guilty plea is rejected, the committal proceedings continue as if the accused person had not pleaded guilty.102 Effect of acceptance of guilty pleaIf the guilty plea is accepted, the Magistrate must commit the accused person to the District Court or the Supreme Court, to be dealt with in accordance with this Division.103 Procedure applicable after committal for trial(1) All proceedings (whether under this or any other Act) relating to a committal for trial apply, so far as practicable, to a committal of an accused person after the guilty plea is accepted.(2) For the purposes of the venue or change of venue of consequent proceedings, a committal is taken to be a committal for trial.104 Higher court may refer accused person back to Magistrate(1) A Judge of the District Court or the Supreme Court before whom an accused person is brought under this Division may order that the committal proceedings be continued before a Magistrate if:(a) it appears to the Judge from the information or evidence given to or before the Judge that the facts in respect of which the court attendance notice was issued do not support the offence to which the accused person pleaded guilty, or
(b) the prosecutor requests the order be made, or
(c) for any other reason, the Judge thinks fit to do so.
(2) On the resumption of the committal proceedings, the committal proceedings continue as if the person had not pleaded guilty.105 Disposal of proceedings by higher court(1) The District Court or the Supreme Court may proceed to sentence or otherwise deal with an accused person brought before the Court under this Division as if the accused person had on arraignment at any sittings of the Court pleaded guilty to the offence on an indictment filed or presented by the Attorney General or the Director of Public Prosecutions.(2) An accused person who is sentenced or otherwise dealt with under this section is for the purposes of any Act or law (whether enacted before or after the commencement of this section) taken to be convicted on indictment of the offence concerned.106 Change to not guilty plea in higher court(1) If an accused person brought before the District Court or the Supreme Court under this Division changes to not guilty the plea to the offence on which the accused person was committed to the Court, the Judge must direct that the accused person be put on trial for the offence.(2) On the direction being given, the accused person is taken to have been committed for trial for the offence. The Judge may make the same orders and do the same things (including dealing with the accused person) as a Magistrate can on committing an accused person for trial.(3) The Judge may give directions as to matters preliminary to the trial as the Judge thinks just.(4) A direction may not be given under subsection (1) if the offence is punishable by imprisonment for life, but the Judge may make an order under section 104.(5) Despite subsection (1), the Judge may make an order under section 104 instead of giving a direction under subsection (1), if of the opinion that such an order should be made.107 Attorney General or Director of Public Prosecutions may direct that no further proceedings be taken(1) If a guilty plea is accepted under this Division, the Attorney General or the Director of Public Prosecutions may, at their discretion, direct in writing that no further proceedings be taken against the accused person under this Division for the offence concerned.(2) No further proceedings may be taken against the accused person under this Division for the offence if a direction is given.Note. Section 44 requires the release of the accused person once a certificate is delivered to the Supreme Court after a direction is given.108 Meaning of “accused person”In this Division:accused person includes a person who has been committed for sentence to the District Court or Supreme Court.Division 6 Procedure after committal for trial or sentence109 Accused person to be committed to correctional centre(1) An accused person who is committed for trial or sentence in any committal proceedings must be committed to a correctional centre by the Magistrate until the sittings of the court at which the person is to be tried or dealt with or until the accused person is otherwise released by operation of law.(2) A Magistrate may order the issue of a warrant under this section.(3) An authorised officer may, for the purposes of this section, issue a warrant to arrest the accused person.(4) An authorised officer before whom an accused person is brought on arrest on a warrant issued under this section may issue a warrant:(a) committing the accused person to a correctional centre or other place of security, and
Note. Part 4 of Chapter 4 sets out procedures for arrest warrants and warrants of commitment generally.The Bail Act 1978 provides for the circumstances when such a person must or may be granted bail rather than be held in prison.110 Bail undertakings and conditions to be notifiedIf an accused person committed to a correctional centre on committal for trial or sentence is released on bail, the person to whom the bail undertaking is given must transmit to the registrar of the relevant court:(a) the bail undertaking, and
(b) any cash or other thing deposited under the bail undertaking, and
(c) the instrument by which any bail conditions were imposed on the grant of bail, and
(d) any agreement or acknowledgment entered into or made pursuant to any such bail condition.
111 Papers to be sent to officer of higher court(1) The registrar must, as soon as possible after the end of committal proceedings, give to the appropriate officer of the court to which an accused person is committed for trial or sentence the documents required by the rules.(2) The appropriate officer if an accused person is committed to the Supreme Court is the registrar of the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court.(3) The appropriate officer if an accused person is committed to the District Court is a registrar of the District Court.(4) The appropriate officer must deliver the documents to the proper officer of the Court at which the trial is to be held or the accused person dealt with, if the Judge presiding so directs.112 Responsibilities of appropriate officerAfter the documents are transmitted and before the day of trial or the day on which the accused person is to be dealt with, the appropriate officer has, in relation to the documents, the same duties and is subject to the same liabilities as the Magistrate would have or be subject to before the transmission in relation to an order in the nature of certiorari or a rule or order instead of certiorari directed to the Magistrate.113 Copies of trial papers to be given to Director of Public Prosecutions(1) The appropriate officer must, as soon as practicable after receiving a document transmitted by the registrar after an accused person is committed for trial or sentence, transmit a copy of the document to the Director of Public Prosecutions.(2) The copy must be transmitted by the most convenient method, having regard to the necessity to maintain the security of the document.114 Copies of transcripts of evidence and witnesses’ statements(1) An accused person who is committed for trial or sentence is entitled to obtain one copy of the transcript of evidence taken at the committal proceedings, and any written statements tendered at the proceedings.(2) The rules may make provision for or with respect to the provision of a copy to the person and the regulations may make provision for or with respect to the fees for the provision of a copy.115 Meaning of “accused person”In this Division:accused person includes a person who has been committed for trial or sentence to the District Court or Supreme Court.Division 7 Costs116 When costs may be awarded to accused persons(1) A Magistrate may at the end of committal proceedings order that the prosecutor pay professional costs to the registrar, for payment to the accused person, if:(a) the accused person is discharged as to the subject-matter of the offence or the matter is withdrawn, or
(b) the accused person is committed for trial or sentence for an indictable offence which is not the same as the indictable offence the subject of the court attendance notice.
(2) The amount of professional costs is to be the amount that the Magistrate considers to be just and reasonable.(3) The order must specify the amount of professional costs payable.(4) If the accused person is discharged, the order for costs may form part of the order discharging the accused person.(5) In this section:professional costs means costs (other than court costs) relating to professional expenses and disbursements (including witnesses’ expenses) in respect of proceedings before a Magistrate.117 Limit on circumstances when costs may be awarded against a public officer(1) Professional costs are not to be awarded in favour of an accused person in any committal proceedings unless the Magistrate is satisfied as to any one or more of the following:(a) that the investigation into the alleged offence was conducted in an unreasonable or improper manner,
(c) that the prosecution unreasonably failed to investigate (or to investigate properly) any relevant matter of which it was aware or ought reasonably to have been aware and which suggested either that the accused person might not be guilty or that, for any other reason, the proceedings should not have been brought,
(d) that, because of other exceptional circumstances relating to the conduct of the proceedings by the prosecutor, it is just and reasonable to award costs.
(2) This section does not apply to the awarding of costs against a prosecutor acting in a private capacity.(3) In this section:professional costs means costs (other than court costs) relating to professional expenses and disbursements (including witnesses’ expenses) in respect of proceedings before a Magistrate.118 Costs on adjournment(1) A Magistrate may in any committal proceedings, at his or her discretion or on the application of the prosecutor or an accused person, order that one party pay costs if the matter is adjourned.(2) An order may be made only if the Magistrate is satisfied that the other party has incurred additional costs because of the unreasonable conduct or delay of the party against whom the order is made.(3) An order may be made whatever the result of the proceedings.119 Content of costs ordersThe order must specify the amount of costs payable or may provide for the determination of the amount at the end of the proceedings.120 Enforcement of costs ordersAn order made by a Magistrate under this Division for the payment of costs is taken to be a fine within the meaning of the Fines Act 1996.Part 3 Trial proceduresDivision 1 Listing121 DefinitionsIn this Part:Criminal Listing Director means:(a) in relation to the Supreme Court—the public servant employed in the Supreme Court to make arrangements for the listing of criminal proceedings that are to be heard and determined before the Supreme Court, and
(b) in relation to the District Court—the public servant employed in the District Court to make arrangements for the listing of criminal proceedings that are to be heard and determined before the District Court, and
(c) any public servant authorised by a person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), or in accordance with the regulations, to exercise any functions of the Criminal Listing Director.
criminal proceedings means:(a) proceedings relating to the trial of a person before the Supreme Court or the District Court,
(b) proceedings relating to the sentencing of a person by the Supreme Court or the District Court, or
(c) proceedings relating to an appeal under the Crimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act 2001 to the District Court in its criminal jurisdiction.
122 Listing(1) The Criminal Listing Director is, subject to the regulations, to make arrangements for the listing of criminal proceedings that are to be heard and determined before the Supreme Court or the District Court.(1A) In making such listing arrangements, the Criminal Listing Director is responsible to:(a) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in the case of criminal proceedings that are to be heard and determined before that Court, or
(b) the Chief Judge of the District Court, in the case of criminal proceedings that are to be heard and determined before that Court.
(2) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to the practice and procedure to be adopted for the listing of criminal proceedings that are to be heard and determined before the Supreme Court or the District Court.(3) Regulations made under this section prevail over rules of court, or any direction or order of a court, to the extent of any inconsistency.123 Authority of Criminal Listing DirectorIt is the duty of all persons involved in criminal proceedings to abide, as far as practicable, by the arrangements made by the Criminal Listing Director in exercising functions under this Act.124 LiaisonFor the purpose of exercising the functions conferred on the Criminal Listing Director, the Criminal Listing Director may liaise with the Judges and officers of the Supreme Court and the District Court, prosecutors, accused persons and their Australian legal practitioners, and other persons involved in criminal proceedings.125 Certain matters not affected(1) This Division does not authorise the Criminal Listing Director:(a) to fix or change the venue of proceedings, except with the consent of the accused person and the prosecutor, or
(b) to determine when or where a court is to exercise its jurisdiction.
(2) Nothing in this Division relating to the Criminal Listing Director affects:(a) the power of the Attorney General to fix or change the venue of any matter,
(b) the power of a court to regulate proceedings before it,
(c) the power of a court to adjourn any matter,
(d) proceedings in the Court of Criminal Appeal,
(e) proceedings in the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction, or
(f) proceedings under the Bail Act 1978.
Division 2 Commencement and nature of proceedings126 Signing of indictments(1) An indictment shall be signed:(a) by the Attorney General, the Solicitor General or the Director of Public Prosecutions, or
(b) for and on behalf of the Attorney General or the Director of Public Prosecutions by:(i) a Crown Prosecutor,
(2) The Director of Public Prosecutions may, by order in writing, authorise a person to sign indictments for and on behalf of the Director.(3) It shall be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that an indictment signed by a person for and on behalf of the Attorney General or the Director of Public Prosecutions was signed by a person authorised to do so.(4) A certificate signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the effect that a specified person was authorised during a specified period to sign indictments for and on behalf of the Director is admissible in evidence in any legal proceedings and is evidence of the matters certified.127 Manner of presenting indictmentsThe regulations and (subject to the regulations) the rules of court may make provision for or with respect to the manner of presenting indictments (including by the filing of the indictment in a court registry).128 Directions as to indictments to be presented in District Court(1) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may issue a practice note on behalf of the Supreme Court giving directions to prosecutors with respect to the classes of indictments that are to be presented to the District Court rather than the Supreme Court.(2) The Chief Justice may exempt a particular indictment from any such direction.(3) The Supreme Court may reject an indictment:(a) that is of a class to which any such direction applies, and
(4) The rejection of an indictment does not preclude the presentation of a further indictment in accordance with any such direction.129 Time within which indictment to be presented(1) In this section, relevant court, in relation to a matter, means the Supreme Court or the District Court before which the matter has been listed for trial or mention.(2) An indictment is to be presented within 4 weeks after the committal of the accused person for trial, except as provided by this section.(3) The time within which the indictment is to be presented may be extended:(a) by the regulations or (subject to the regulations) the rules of the relevant court, or
(4) If an indictment is not presented within the time required by this section, the relevant court may:(a) proceed with the trial if an indictment has been presented, or
(5) The prosecutor has no right to an adjournment merely because an indictment has not been presented.(6) The relevant court must, in exercising any power under this section, have regard to the fact that the Crown does not have a right of appeal if the accused person is acquitted.(7) This section does not affect the powers of the relevant court under section 21.130 Trial proceedings after presentation of indictment and before empanelment of jury(1) In this section, court means the Supreme Court or District Court.(2) The court has jurisdiction with respect to the conduct of proceedings on indictment as soon as the indictment is presented and the accused person is arraigned, and any orders that may be made by the court for the purposes of the trial in the absence of a jury may be made before a jury is empanelled for the trial.(3) If proceedings are held for the purpose of making any such orders after the indictment is presented to commence the trial and before the jury is empanelled:(a) the proceedings are part of the trial of the accused person, and
(4) Nothing in this section requires a jury to be empanelled if the accused person pleads guilty to an offence during proceedings to which this section applies.(5) This section applies to proceedings in respect of indictments presented after the commencement of this section.130A Pre-trial orders and orders made during trial bind trial Judge(1) A pre-trial order made by a Judge in proceedings on indictment is binding on the trial Judge in those proceedings unless, in the opinion of the trial Judge, it would not be in the interests of justice for the order to be binding.(2) If, on an appeal against a conviction for an offence in proceedings on indictment, a new trial is ordered, a pre-trial order made by a Judge, or an order made by the trial Judge, in relation to the proceedings from which the conviction arose is binding on the trial Judge hearing the fresh trial proceedings unless:(a) in the opinion of the trial Judge hearing the fresh trial proceedings, it would not be in the interests of justice for that order to be binding, or
(3) If proceedings on indictment before a trial Judge are discontinued for any reason, a pre-trial order made by a Judge, or an order made by the trial Judge, in relation to those proceedings is binding on a trial Judge hearing any subsequent trial proceedings relating to the same offence as the discontinued proceedings unless, in the opinion of the trial Judge hearing the subsequent trial proceedings, it would not be in the interests of justice for the order to be binding.(4) In this section, pre-trial order means any order made after the indictment is first presented but before the empanelment of a jury for a trial.131 Trial by jury in criminal proceedingsCriminal proceedings in the Supreme Court or the District Court are to be tried by a jury, except as otherwise provided by this Part.132 Orders for trial by Judge alone(1) An accused person or the prosecutor in criminal proceedings in the Supreme Court or District Court may apply to the court for an order that the accused person be tried by a Judge alone (a trial by judge order).(2) The court must make a trial by judge order if both the accused person and the prosecutor agree to the accused person being tried by a Judge alone.(3) If the accused person does not agree to being tried by a Judge alone, the court must not make a trial by judge order.(4) If the prosecutor does not agree to the accused person being tried by a Judge alone, the court may make a trial by judge order if it considers it is in the interests of justice to do so.(5) Without limiting subsection (4), the court may refuse to make an order if it considers that the trial will involve a factual issue that requires the application of objective community standards, including (but not limited to) an issue of reasonableness, negligence, indecency, obscenity or dangerousness.(6) The court must not make a trial by judge order unless it is satisfied that the accused person has sought and received advice in relation to the effect of such an order from an Australian legal practitioner.(7) The court may make a trial by judge order despite any other provision of this section or section 132A if the court is of the opinion that:(a) there is a substantial risk that acts that may constitute an offence under Division 3 of Part 7 of the Crimes Act 1900 are likely to be committed in respect of any jury or juror, and
132A Applications for trial by judge alone in criminal proceedings(1) An application for an order under section 132 that an accused person be tried by a Judge alone must be made not less than 28 days before the date fixed for the trial in the Supreme Court or District Court, except with the leave of the court.(2) An application must not be made in a joint trial unless:(a) all other accused person apply to be tried by a Judge alone, and
(3) An accused person or a prosecutor who applies for an order under section 132 may, at any time before the date fixed for the accused person’s trial, subsequently apply for a trial by a jury.(4) Rules of court may be made with respect to applications under section 132 or this section.133 Verdict of single Judge(1) A Judge who tries criminal proceedings without a jury may make any finding that could have been made by a jury on the question of the guilt of the accused person. Any such finding has, for all purposes, the same effect as a verdict of a jury.(2) A judgment by a Judge in any such case must include the principles of law applied by the Judge and the findings of fact on which the Judge relied.(3) If any Act or law requires a warning to be given to a jury in any such case, the Judge is to take the warning into account in dealing with the matter.Division 3 Case management provisions and other provisions to reduce delays in proceedings134 Purpose(1) The purpose of this Division is to reduce delays in proceedings on indictment by:(a) requiring certain pre-trial disclosure by the prosecution and the defence, and
(2) Case management measures that are available to the court under this Division include the ordering of pre-trial hearings, pre-trial conferences and further pre-trial disclosure. The court has a discretion in determining which (if any) of those measures are suitable in the proceedings concerned.135 Definitions(1) In this Division:court means the Supreme Court or District Court.pre-trial conference means a conference held under section 140.pre-trial hearing means a hearing held under section 139.(2) In this Division, a reference to the accused person is to be read as including a reference to the Australian legal practitioner representing the accused person.136 Directions for conduct of proceedingsAt the first mention of proceedings in the court before which the trial is proposed to be heard, the presiding Judge is to give directions with respect to the future conduct of the trial, including a direction as to the time by which notice of the prosecution case is to be given under section 137 and notice of the defence response is to be given under section 138.137 Notice of prosecution case to be given to accused person(1) The prosecutor is to give to the accused person notice of the prosecution case that includes the following:(a) a copy of the indictment,
(i) a copy of any information, document or other thing provided by police officers to the prosecutor, or otherwise in the possession of the prosecutor, that may reasonably be regarded as relevant to the prosecution case or the defence case, and that has not otherwise been disclosed to the accused person,
(j) a list identifying:(i) any information, document or other thing of which the prosecutor is aware and that would reasonably be regarded as being of relevance to the case but that is not in the prosecutor’s possession and is not in the accused person’s possession, and
(2) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to the form and content of a statement of facts for the purposes of subsection (1) (b).138 Notice of defence response to be given to prosecutorThe accused person is to give the prosecutor notice of the defence response that includes the following:(a) the name of any Australian legal practitioner proposed to appear on behalf of the accused person at the trial,
(b) notice of any consent that the accused person proposes to give at the trial under section 190 of the Evidence Act 1995 in relation to each of the following:(i) a statement of a witness that the prosecutor proposes to adduce at the trial,
(c) a statement as to whether or not the accused person intends to give any notice under section 150 (Notice of alibi),
(d) a statement as to whether or not the accused person intends to give any notice under section 151 (Notice of intention to adduce evidence of substantial mental impairment).
139 Pre-trial hearings(1) At the first mention of proceedings in the court before which the trial is proposed to be heard or at any other time, the court may order the prosecutor and the accused person to attend one or more pre-trial hearings before the court so long as the time appointed for any such hearing occurs after the indictment has been presented or filed.(2) During a pre-trial hearing, the court may make such orders, determinations or findings, or give such directions or rulings, as it thinks appropriate for the efficient management and conduct of the trial.(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the court may take any or all of the following action under that subsection:(a) hear and determine an objection to the indictment,
(c) order pre-trial disclosure by the prosecutor or the accused person under section 141,
(4) Despite any other provision of this Act, the court may make any order, determination or finding, or give any ruling, under this section on application by a party to the proceedings or on the court’s own initiative.(5) Any order, determination or finding made, or ruling given, by the court under this section is binding on the trial Judge in the proceedings unless, in the opinion of the trial Judge, it would not be in the interests of justice for the order, determination, finding or ruling to be binding.(6) Except with the leave of the court, a party to proceedings may not raise a matter referred to in subsection (3) (a) or (e) at trial if a pre-trial hearing was held in the proceedings and the matter was not raised at the pre-trial hearing.(7) Leave is not to be granted under subsection (6) unless the court is of the opinion that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to refuse leave to raise the matter concerned.140 Pre-trial conferences(1) At the first mention of proceedings in the court before which the trial is proposed to be heard or at any other time, the court may order that a pre-trial conference is to be held so long as the time appointed for any such conference occurs after the indictment has been presented or filed.(2) The court may order the holding of a pre-trial conference under this section on application of any party or on the court’s own initiative.(3) The court may make such an order only if the accused person will be represented by an Australian legal practitioner at the pre-trial conference.(4) The purpose of the pre-trial conference is to determine whether the accused person and the prosecutor are able to reach agreement regarding the evidence to be admitted at the trial.(5) The following persons must be present during the pre-trial conference:(a) the prosecutor,
(6) If the accused person has been charged jointly with any other person with the offence concerned, a joint pre-trial conference may be held in respect of two or more co-accused, but only with the consent of the prosecution and each of the co-accused concerned.(7) A requirement under this section that a person be present for the purposes of a pre-trial conference is taken to be satisfied if the person is present or available by way of an audio visual link or telephone.(8) Within 7 days after the holding of a pre-trial conference:(a) the prosecutor and the Australian legal practitioner who represented the accused person at the pre-trial conference must complete a pre-trial conference form, and
(9) The pre-trial conference form:(a) is to indicate the areas of agreement and disagreement between the accused person and the prosecutor regarding the evidence to be admitted at the trial, and
(10) Except with the leave of the court, a party to proceedings may not object to the admission of any evidence at trial if the pre-trial conference form indicates that the parties have agreed that the evidence is not in dispute.(11) Leave is not to be granted under subsection (10) unless the court is of the opinion that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to refuse leave.141 Court may order pre-trial disclosure in particular case(1) After the indictment is presented or filed in proceedings, the court may make any or all of the following orders, but only if the court is of the opinion that it would be in the interests of the administration of justice to do so:(a) order that the prosecutor is to give notice in accordance with section 142,
(b) order that the accused person is to give notice of the defence response to the prosecution’s notice in accordance with section 143,
(c) order that the prosecution is to give notice of the prosecution response to the defence response in accordance with section 144.
(2) The court may order pre-trial disclosure under this section on application of any party or on the court’s own initiative.(3) The court may order pre-trial disclosure only if the court is satisfied that the accused person will be represented by an Australian legal practitioner.(4) The court may limit pre-trial disclosure to any specified aspect of the proceedings.(5) Pre-trial disclosure required by an order under this section is to be made in accordance with a timetable determined by the court.142 Prosecution notice—court-ordered pre-trial disclosureFor the purposes of section 141 (1) (a), the prosecution’s notice is to contain the following:(a) the matters required to be included in the notice of the prosecution case under section 137,
(b) a copy of any information, document or other thing in the possession of the prosecutor that would reasonably be regarded as adverse to the credit or credibility of the accused person,
(c) a list identifying the statements of those witnesses who are proposed to be called at the trial by the prosecutor.
143 Defence response—court-ordered pre-trial disclosureFor the purposes of section 141 (1) (b), the notice of the defence response is to contain the following:(a) the matters required to be included in a notice under section 138,
(b) a statement, in relation to each fact set out in the statement of facts provided by the prosecutor, as to whether the accused person considers the fact is an agreed fact (within the meaning of section 191 of the Evidence Act 1995) or the accused person disputes the fact,
(c) a statement, in relation to each matter and circumstance set out in the statement of facts provided by the prosecutor, as to whether the accused person takes issue with the matter or circumstance as set out,
(d) notice as to whether the accused person proposes to dispute the admissibility of any proposed evidence disclosed by the prosecutor and the basis for the objection,
(e) if the prosecutor disclosed an intention to adduce expert evidence at the trial, notice as to whether the accused person disputes any of the expert evidence and which evidence is disputed,
(f) a copy of any report, relevant to the trial, that has been prepared by a person whom the accused person intends to call as an expert witness at the trial,
(g) if the prosecutor disclosed an intention to adduce evidence at the trial that has been obtained by means of surveillance, notice as to whether the accused person proposes to require the prosecutor to call any witnesses to corroborate that evidence and, if so, which witnesses will be required,
(h) notice as to whether the accused person proposes to raise any issue with respect to the continuity of custody of any proposed exhibit disclosed by the prosecutor,
(i) if the prosecutor disclosed an intention to tender at the trial any transcript, notice as to whether the accused person accepts the transcript as accurate and, if not, in what respect the transcript is disputed,
(j) notice as to whether the accused person proposes to dispute the authenticity or accuracy of any proposed documentary evidence or other exhibit disclosed by the prosecutor,
(k) notice of any significant issue the accused person proposes to raise regarding the form of the indictment, severability of the charges or separate trials for the charges,
(l) notice of any consent the accused person proposes to give under section 184 of the Evidence Act 1995.
144 Prosecution response to defence response—court-ordered pre-trial disclosureFor the purposes of section 141 (1) (c), the notice of the prosecution response to the defence response is to contain the following:(a) if the accused person has disclosed an intention to adduce expert evidence at the trial, notice as to whether the prosecutor disputes any of the expert evidence and, if so, in what respect,
145 Dispensing with formal proof(1) If a fact, matter or circumstance was alleged in a notice required to be given to the accused person by the prosecutor in accordance with this Division and the accused person was required to give a defence response under section 143 but did not disclose in the response an intention to dispute or require proof of the fact, matter or circumstance, the court may order that:(a) a document asserting the alleged fact, matter or circumstance may be admitted at the trial as evidence of the fact, matter or circumstance, and
(2) If evidence was disclosed by the prosecution to the accused person in accordance with this Division and the accused person was required to give a defence response under section 143 but did not include notice in that response under section 143 (d) in relation to that evidence, the court may, by order, dispense with the application of any one or more of the following provisions of the Evidence Act 1995 in relation to the adducing of the evidence at trial:(a) Division 3, 4 or 5 of Part 2.1,
(3) The court may, on the application of a party, direct that the party may adduce evidence of 2 or more witnesses in the form of a summary if the court is satisfied that:(a) the summary is not misleading or confusing, and
(4) The court may, in a direction under subsection (3), require that one or more of the witnesses whose evidence is to be adduced in the form of a summary are to be available for cross-examination.(5) The opinion rule (within the meaning of the Evidence Act 1995) does not apply to evidence adduced in accordance with a direction under subsection (3).(6) The provisions of this section are in addition to the provisions of the Evidence Act 1995, in particular, section 190.146 Sanctions for non-compliance with pre-trial disclosure requirements(1) Exclusion of evidence not disclosed The court may refuse to admit evidence in proceedings that is sought to be adduced by a party who failed to disclose the evidence to the other party in accordance with requirements for pre-trial disclosure imposed by or under this Division.(2) Exclusion of expert evidence where report not provided The court may refuse to admit evidence from an expert witness in proceedings that is sought to be adduced by a party if the party failed to give the other party a copy of a report by the expert witness in accordance with requirements for pre-trial disclosure imposed by or under this Division.(3) Adjournment The court may grant an adjournment to a party if the other party seeks to adduce evidence in the proceedings that the other party failed to disclose in accordance with requirements for pre-trial disclosure imposed by or under this Division and that would prejudice the case of the party seeking the adjournment.(4) Application of sanctions Without limiting the regulations that may be made under subsection (5), the powers of the court may not be exercised under this section to prevent an accused person adducing evidence unless the prosecutor has complied with the requirements for pre-trial disclosure imposed on the prosecution by or under this Division.(5) Regulations The regulations may make provision for or with respect to the exercise of the powers of a court under this section (including the circumstances in which the powers may not be exercised).147 Disclosure requirements are ongoing(1) The obligation to comply with the requirements for pre-trial disclosure imposed by or under this Division continues until any of the following happens:(a) the accused person is convicted or acquitted of the charges in the indictment,
(2) Accordingly, if any information, document or other thing is obtained or anything else occurs after pre-trial disclosure is made by a party to the proceedings, that would have affected that pre-trial disclosure had the information, document or thing been obtained or the thing occurred before pre-trial disclosure was made, the information, document, thing or occurrence is to be disclosed to the other party to the proceedings as soon as practicable.148 Court may waive requirements(1) A court may, by order, waive any of the pre-trial disclosure requirements that apply under this Division.(2) The court may make such an order on its own initiative or on the application of the prosecutor or the accused person.(3) An order may be made subject to such conditions (if any) as the court thinks fit.149 Requirements as to notices(1) A notice under this Division is to be in writing.(2) Any notice purporting to be given under this Division on behalf of the accused person by his or her Australian legal practitioner is, unless the contrary is proved, taken to have been given with the authority of the accused person.(3) A notice under this Division that is required to be given to a prosecutor may be given to the prosecutor in the following manner, or as otherwise directed by the court:(a) by delivering it to the prosecutor,
(4) A notice under this Division that is required to be given to an accused person may be given to the accused person in the following manner, or as otherwise directed by the court:(a) by delivering it to the accused person,
(5) A party required to give a notice under this Division must file a copy of the notice with the court as soon as practicable after giving it, or as otherwise required by the court.149A Copies of exhibits and other things not to be provided if impracticable(1) A copy of a proposed exhibit, document or thing is not required to be included in a notice under this Division if it is impossible or impractical to provide a copy.(2) However, the party required to give the notice:(a) is to specify in the notice a reasonable time and place at which the proposed exhibit, document or thing may be inspected, and
149B Personal details not to be provided(1) The prosecutor is not to disclose in any notice under this Division the address or telephone number of any witness proposed to be called by the prosecutor, or of any other living person, unless:(a) the address or telephone number is a materially relevant part of the evidence, or
(2) An application for such an order may be made by the accused person or the prosecutor.(3) The court must not make such an order unless satisfied that the disclosure is not likely to present a reasonably ascertainable risk to the welfare or protection of any person or that the interests of justice (including the accused person’s right to prepare properly for the hearing of the evidence for the prosecution) outweigh any such risk.(4) This section does not prevent the disclosure of an address if the disclosure does not identify it as a particular person’s address, or it could not reasonably be inferred from the matters disclosed that it is a particular person’s address.(5) An address or telephone number that must not be disclosed may, without reference to the person who made the statement being disclosed, be deleted from that statement, or rendered illegible, before the statement is given to the accused person.149C Requirements as to statements of witnesses(1) A statement of a witness that is included in a notice under this Division may be in the form of questions and answers.(2) If a notice includes a statement that is, wholly or in part, in a language other than English, there must be annexed to it a document purporting to contain a translation of the statement, or so much of it as is not in the English language, into the English language.149D Exemption for matters previously disclosed(1) The prosecutor is not required to include in a notice under this Division anything that has already been included in a brief of evidence in relation to the matter served on the accused person in accordance with this or any other Act or that has otherwise been provided or disclosed to the accused person.(2) The accused person is not required to include in a notice under this Division anything that has already been provided or disclosed to the prosecutor.149E Court powers to ensure efficient management and conduct of trial(1) On or after the commencement of the trial in proceedings, the court may make such orders, determinations or findings, or give such directions or rulings, as it thinks appropriate for the efficient management and conduct of the trial.(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the court may order that any of the parties to the proceedings disclose any matter that was, or could have been, required to be disclosed under this Division before the commencement of the trial.149F Miscellaneous provisions(1) A statement about any matter that is made by or on behalf of the accused person for the purposes of complying with requirements for pre-trial disclosure imposed by or under this Division does not constitute an admission of that matter by the accused person.(2) The court may make orders to resolve any dispute between the parties to criminal proceedings about:(a) the requirements for pre-trial disclosure imposed by or under this Division, or
(3) This Division does not affect the obligations or powers under Division 4 (Pre-trial disclosure—general).(4) Nothing in this Division prevents any voluntary pre-trial disclosure by the accused person to the prosecutor of any information, document or other thing that the accused person proposes to adduce in evidence in the proceedings.(5) This Division does not limit any obligation (arising otherwise than under this Division) for pre-trial disclosure that is capable of being complied with concurrently with requirements imposed by or under this Division, but this Division prevails to the extent of any inconsistency with any such obligation. Any such obligation extends to obligations imposed by the common law, the rules of court, the legal profession rules made under Part 7.5 of the Legal Profession Act 2004 and prosecution guidelines issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions.(6) However, this Division does not affect any immunity that applies by law to the disclosure of any information, document or other thing, including, for example, legal professional or client legal privilege, public interest immunity and sexual assault communications privilege under Division 2 of Part 5 of Chapter 6.(7) Nothing in this Division limits any powers that a court has apart from this Division in relation to proceedings.(8) The provisions of this Division prevail over the provisions of the Evidence Act 1995 to the extent of any inconsistency with those provisions.Division 4 Pre-trial disclosure—general150 Notice of alibi(1) This section applies only to trials on indictment.(2) An accused person may not, without the leave of the court, adduce evidence in support of an alibi unless, before the end of the prescribed period, he or she gives notice of particulars of the alibi to the Director of Public Prosecutions and files a copy of the notice with the court.(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the accused person may not, without the leave of the court, call any other person to give evidence in support of an alibi unless:(a) the notice under that subsection includes the other person’s name and address or, if the other person’s name or address is not known to the accused person at the time he or she gives notice, any information in his or her possession that might be of material assistance in finding the other person, and
(4) The court may not refuse leave under this section if it appears to the court that, on the committal for trial of the accused person, he or she was not informed by the committing Magistrate of the requirements of subsections (2), (3) and (7) and, for that purpose, a statement in writing by the committing Magistrate that the accused person was informed of those requirements is evidence that the accused person was so informed.(5) Any evidence tendered to disprove an alibi may, subject to any direction by the court, be given before or after evidence is given in support of the alibi.(6) Any notice purporting to be given under this section on behalf of the accused person by his or her Australian legal practitioner is, unless the contrary is proved, to be taken to have been given with the authority of the accused person.(7) A notice under this section must be given in writing to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and may be given by delivering it to the Director, by leaving it at the Director’s office or by sending it in a letter addressed to the Director at the Director’s office.(8) In this section:evidence in support of an alibi means evidence tending to show that, by reason of the presence of the accused person at a particular place or in a particular area at a particular time, the accused person was not, or was unlikely to have been, at the place where the offence is alleged to have been committed at the time of its alleged commission.prescribed period means the period commencing at the time of the accused person’s committal for trial and ending 42 days before the trial is listed for hearing.151 Notice of intention to adduce evidence of substantial mental impairment(1) On a trial for murder, the accused person must not, without the leave of the court, adduce evidence tending to prove a contention of substantial mental impairment unless the accused person gives notice, as prescribed by the regulations, of his or her intention to raise that contention to the Director of Public Prosecutions and files a copy of the notice with the court.(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the accused person must not, without the leave of the court, call any other person to give evidence tending to prove a contention of substantial mental impairment unless the notice under this section includes:(a) the name and address of the other person, and
(3) Any evidence tendered to disprove a contention of substantial mental impairment may, subject to any direction of the court, be given before or after evidence is given to prove that contention.(4) Any notice purporting to be given under this section on behalf of the accused person by his or her Australian legal practitioner is taken, unless the contrary is proved, to have been given with the authority of the accused person.(5) A notice under this section is to be given in writing to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and may be given by delivering it to the Director, by leaving it at the Director’s office or by sending it in a letter addressed to the Director at the Director’s office.(6) In this section, contention of substantial mental impairment means a contention by the accused person that the accused person is not liable to be convicted of murder by virtue of section 23A of the Crimes Act 1900.Division 5 Pleadings on trial152 Arraignment on charge of previous conviction(1) An accused person is not to be arraigned for any previous conviction charged in an indictment unless he or she is convicted of a subsequent offence charged in the indictment.(2) On the accused person’s conviction of the subsequent offence:(a) the accused person is to be arraigned, and
(b) the jury is to be charged, and
(c) the trial is to proceed,
in relation to the previous conviction.(3) In the trial for the subsequent offence, evidence of the previous conviction may not be admitted, except in reply to evidence of character, unless the accused person is convicted of the subsequent offence.153 Guilty plea to offence not charged(1) If an accused person:(a) is arraigned on an indictment for an offence, and
(b) can lawfully be convicted on the indictment of some other offence not charged in the indictment,
he or she may plead “not guilty” of the offence charged in the indictment, but “guilty” of the other offence.(2) The Crown may elect to accept the plea of “guilty” or may require the trial to proceed on the charge on which the accused person is arraigned.154 Plea of “not guilty”If an accused person arraigned on an indictment pleads “not guilty”, the accused person is taken to have put himself or herself on the country for trial, and the court is to order a jury for trial accordingly.155 Refusal to pleadIf an accused person who is arraigned stands mute, or will not answer directly to the indictment, the court may order a plea of “not guilty” to be entered on behalf of the accused person, and the plea so entered has the same effect as if the accused person had actually pleaded “not guilty”.156 Plea of autrefois convict(1) In any plea of autrefois convict, or of autrefois acquit, it is sufficient for the accused person to allege that he or she has been lawfully convicted or acquitted, as the case may be, of the offence charged in the indictment, without specifying the time or place of the previous conviction or acquittal.(2) The issue of autrefois convict or autrefois acquit is to be determined by the court without the presence of a jury.157 Change to guilty plea during trial(1) If an accused person pleads “guilty” to an offence at any time after having been given into the charge of a jury, and the court accepts the plea, the court is to discharge the jury from giving a verdict in the matter and to find the accused person guilty of the offence.(2) The finding has effect as if it were the verdict of the jury, and the accused person is liable to punishment accordingly.Division 6 Other provisions relating to trials158 Transcript of statement in committal proceedingsA transcript of a record of a statement made by an accused person may, unless the court otherwise orders, be given in evidence at the trial of the accused person if it is proved on oath that the record is a true record of the statement made by the accused person and that the transcript is a correct transcript of the record.159 Opening address to jury by accused person(1) An accused person or his or her Australian legal practitioner may address the jury immediately after the opening address of the prosecutor.(2) Any such opening address is to be limited generally to an address on:(a) the matters disclosed in the prosecutor’s opening address, including those that are in dispute and those that are not in dispute, and
(3) If the accused person intends to give evidence or to call any witness in support of the defence, the accused person or his or her Australian legal practitioner is entitled to open the case for the defence before calling evidence, whether or not an address has been made to the jury.160 Closing address to jury by accused person(1) An accused person or his or her Australian legal practitioner may address the jury after the close of the evidence for the defence and any evidence in reply by the Crown and after the prosecutor has made a closing address to the jury or declined to make a closing address to the jury.(2) If, in the accused person’s closing address, relevant facts are asserted that are not supported by any evidence that is before the jury, the court may grant leave for the Crown to make a supplementary address to the jury replying to any such assertion.161 Summary by Judge(1) At the end of a criminal trial before a jury, a Judge need not summarise the evidence given in the trial if of the opinion that, in all the circumstances of the trial, a summary is not necessary.(2) This section applies despite any rule of law or practice to the contrary.(3) Nothing in this section affects any aspect of a Judge’s summing up function other than the summary of evidence in a trial.162 Alternative verdict of attempt on trial for any indictable offenceIf, on the trial of a person for any indictable offence, the jury is not satisfied that the person is guilty of the offence, but is satisfied that he or she is guilty of:(a) an attempt to commit the offence, or
(b) an assault with intent to commit the offence,
it may acquit the person of the offence charged and find the person guilty of the attempt or assault, and the person is liable to punishment accordingly.163 No further prosecution after trial for serious indictable offence where alternative verdict possibleIf under any Act a person who is tried for a serious indictable offence may be acquitted of that offence but found guilty of some other offence, the person is not liable to further prosecution on the same facts for that other offence.164 Joint trial in case of perjuryIf:(a) a number of persons are severally indicted for perjury or false swearing, and
(b) the statements alleged to be false:(i) are alleged to have been made on the same occasion, before the same court or tribunal and in respect of the same subject-matter, and
(ii) are in each case to the same effect, whether in identical terms or not,
all of those persons may be tried together, at the same time and before the same jury, provided that each person is to have his or her full right of challenge.Division 7 Certain summary offences may be dealt with165 Definitions and application(1) In this Part:back up offence, in relation to an indictable offence, means an offence:(a) that is:(i) a summary offence, or
(ii) an indictable offence that is capable of being dealt with summarily by the Local Court in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5, and
(b) all the elements of which are elements that are necessary to constitute the first indictable offence, and
(c) that is to be prosecuted on the same facts as the first indictable offence.
court means the Supreme Court or District Court.related offence, in relation to an indictable offence, means an offence:(a) that is:(i) a summary offence, or
(b) that arises from substantially the same circumstances as those from which the first indictable offence has arisen,
but does not include a back up offence.(2) This Part extends to proceedings commenced, but not concluded, before the commencement of this Part.166 Certification and transfer of back up and related offences(1) On committal for trial or sentence of a person charged with an indictable offence:(a) the prosecutor must inform the Magistrate as to whether or not the person has been charged with any back up offence or related offence, and
(2) This section does not prevent the person referred to in subsection (1) being charged with any offence after committal.(3) Proceedings on a back up offence or related offence that are laid after committal for trial or sentence of a person charged with an indictable offence are to be transferred to the court in which the person has been committed to trial or sentence.167 Manner of dealing with back up and related offences(1) If, following a plea of guilty by an accused person to an indictable offence or at the conclusion of the trial of an accused person for an indictable offence, a court finds the accused person guilty of the offence, the court:(a) is (unless it considers it inappropriate in the circumstances to do so) to order that the charge in relation to each back up offence be dismissed, and
(b) is to deal with any back up offence the charge for which is not dismissed under paragraph (a) and any related offence with which the accused person has been charged in accordance with this Part, unless to do so would not be in the interests of justice.
(1A) If at the conclusion of the trial of an accused person for an indictable offence, a court finds the accused person not guilty of the offence, the court is to deal with any back up offence or related offence with which the person has been charged in accordance with this Part, unless to do so would not be in the interests of justice.(2) If a court is dealing with an accused person for an indictable offence following the person’s committal for sentence, the court:(a) is (unless it considers it inappropriate in the circumstances to do so) to order that the charge in relation to each back up offence be dismissed, and
(b) may deal with any back up offence the charge for which is not dismissed under paragraph (a) and any related offence with which the accused person has been charged in accordance with this Part, unless to do so would not be in the interests of justice.
(3) (Repealed)(4) A court may deal with a back up offence or related offence with which an accused person has been charged even though it is not doing so in relation to a back up offence or related offence with which another accused person in the same proceedings is charged.168 Procedures for dealing with certain offences related to indictable offences(1) The court is to deal with a back up offence or related offence under this Part without a jury and on the basis only of evidence given during the trial of the accused person for the relevant indictable offence in the same proceedings and additional evidence given under this section.(2) The prosecutor or accused person may, with the leave of the court, call additional evidence in relation to the back up offence or related offence.(3) In sentencing or otherwise dealing with a person for a back up offence or related offence, the court has the same functions, and is subject to the same restrictions and procedures, as the Local Court.(4) Rules of court may be made with respect to back up offences or related offences dealt with under this Part.169 Remission of certain offences related to indictable offences to Local Court(1) A court that is dealing with a back up offence or related offence under this Part may, if it is in the interests of justice to do so, remit the matter to the Local Court.(2) Any back up offence or related offence that is not dealt with by a court in accordance with this Part is to be remitted back to the Local Court. Top of page