by Megan Harrison
Published 1994
Kogan Page
Paperback
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Blackstone's Police Manual - Evidence and Procedure: 2002 Ed
by Glenn Hutton, David Johnston
Published1999
Blackstone Press
Paperback
Read more...
At your initial hearing, often called a charges court, you will be given the opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty. Hopefully you will have been advised, and you will make the appropriate declaration. If you would have given the guilty option often the case will be dealt with there and then. You will be given the chance for you or your representative to give mitigation and depending on the charge you will be sentenced there and then unless reports are required (Probation Reports).
After a not guilty response a few things may happen, if the charge is a summary only charge (see other pages on this site) you will be given a date for your trial. If the charge is an either way offence the Magistrates will decide whether they will take jurisdiction of the case or send it to the Crown Court. After this you will, again hopefully under legal advice, have the opportunity of deciding if you want to have your trial at the Magistrates Court or the Crown Court. In both cases a date will be set for your next hearing.
To you who are reading this document (preparing) it may be inconceivable, but I can tell you from experience that many people who consider they are 'not guilty' arrive in court with no legal representation, evidence, supporting documents etc because they are so convinced that it is 'obvious' that they are not guilty. Nothing is obvious unless proven.
If you have not already done so, do take all the actions explained in the previous section (For More Serious Cases).