All about Crown Court
Established by the Courts Act of 1971, the Crown Court, together with the Court of Appeals and the High Court of Justice, is an integral component of England and Wales judicial system. It functions as the highest court of the first instance when it comes to dealing with criminal cases.
However, in some cases, the Crown Court can serve as a subordinate to its Divisional Courts and even to the High Court. Finding reliable law tutors in London can help you to understand better what the Crown Court is, who does what in the court, and what happens in the court.
What the Crown Court Does?
In England and Wales, the Crown Court has several functions. For instance, it handles cases concerning indictable-only offences. Such offences include robbery, murder, rape, and manslaughter. It also deals with either-way offences transferred from the magistrate’s court. The court also hears appeals from the magistrate’s court, and it can handle sentencing decisions referred to it from the magistrate’s court in cases where the sentences required are tougher than the magistrate courts are allowed to impose.
What Happens here?
The Crown Court is headed by a judge. The judge is responsible for deciding the questions of law and summing up the facts of any given case to the jury. The judge also discharges or sentences the accused person. If the accused pleads not guilty, the prosecutor and the defendant create opposing sides. For the prosecution to secure a conviction, the prosecutor has to persuade the judge that the accused person is guilty. Conversely, the defence aims at convincing the judge that the prosecution’s argument is weak or invalid. After the case is heard, a jury comprised of twelve members of the public has to decide if the accused person is guilty or not.
The Takeaway
Overall, it is apparent that the Crown Court forms an essential part of the England and Wales judicial system. If you would like to learn more about UK’s judicial system; finding a law tutor in London would suffice.
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