Crime 4: Criminal procedure (part 2) CHECK YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR LAW

CHECK YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR LAW

Crime 4: Criminal procedure (part 2)

Before you do this exercise, see Crime 3 on the previous page. Here are the various stages of a criminal trial. Read through them, and try to remember as much information as possible. Then cover this page, and try to complete the same sentences on the next page with the information that has been removed. When the accused knows that he is going to stand trial, he asks a solicitor to prepare his case. The information collected is then given to a barrister who will defend him in court. In a criminal case, the police will have their own barrister, who is known as the Crown Prosecutor. These two barristers are referred to throughout the trial as counsel for the defence and counsel for the prosecution. Before the trial begins, the counsels review their evidence and decide how to present their case. Members of the jury, when required, are selected and briefed on their duties. A date for the trial is arranged. At the beginning of the trial, the judge asks the defendant how he pleads: 'guilty' or 'not guilty'. Both counsels then address the jury with a summary of what they believe is true, and explain what the jury will hear at the trial. The counsel for the prosecution then calls and questions witnesses. The counsel for the defence can cross-examine these people. The defendant will also be questioned by both counsels. At the end of the trial, the counsels summarise the facts as they see them, and the jury then retires to deliberate in private. When the jury has reached its verdict, it returns to the court and the foreman of the jury delivers the verdict to the court. If the defendant is found to be 'not guilty', he is acquitted. However, if the jury's verdict is 'guilty', the defendant is convicted and sentenced by the judge. The defendant may have to serve a custodial sentence (in other words go to prison), he may be given a suspended sentence, or he may be fined (or a combination of two of these). If the defendant is not happy with the decision of the court, he is free to appeal to a higher court. The highest courts for appellants in England and Wales are the House of Lords and the Court of Justice of the European Communities (also called the European Court of Justice, or ECJ for short). When you are doing this exercise, try not to refer back to the previous page until you have completed it. When the __________ knows that he is going to stand trial, he asks a __________ to prepare his __________. The information collected is then given to a _________ who will __________ him in court. In a criminal case, the police will have their own barrister, who is known as the _______________ (2 words). These two barristers are referred to throughout the trial as _______________ (4 words) and _______________ (4 words). Before the trial begins, the counsels review their __________ and decide how to present their case. Members of the __________, when required, are selected and __________ on their duties. A date for the trial is arranged. At the beginning of the trial, the judge asks the defendant how he __________: '________' or '_______________' (2 words). Both counsels then address the jury with a __________ of what they believe is true, and explain what the jury will hear at the trial. The counsel for the prosecution then calls and __________ __________. The counsel for the defence can _______________(2 words joined by a hyphen) these people. The defendant will also be questioned by both counsels. At the end of the trial, the counsels summarise the facts as they see them, and the jury then __________ to __________ in private. When the jury has reached its __________, it returns to the court and the __________ of the jury delivers it to the court. If the defendant is found to be 'not guilty', he is __________. However, if the jury's verdict is 'guilty', the defendant is __________ and __________ by the judge. The defendant may have to serve a __________ sentence (in other words go to prison), he may be given a __________ sentence, or he may be __________ (or a combination of two of these). If the defendant is not happy with the decision of the court, he is free to __________ to a higher court. The highest courts for __________ in England and Wales are the House of __________ and the Court of Justice of the European Communities (also called the European Court of Justice, or __________ for short).

 

ANSWER KEY

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