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Lecture notes Criminal procedure
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Criminal Procedure Notes Part 2Unit 10 – Plea phase ........................................................................................................................................................... 2
Various pleas – S 106 .................................................................................................................................................... 2
Plea of guilty – S 112 ..................................................................................................................................................... 2
Correction of plea of guilty – S 113 .......................................................................................................................... 3
Plea of not guilty – S 115 ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Plea and sentence agreement – S 105A.......................................................................................................................... 3
Requirements to be met by prosecutor ...................................................................................................................... 3
Content of agreement: ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Procedure in court: .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Case law on S 105A .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Unit 11 – Specific Trial Procedures ................................................................................................................................... 5
Discharge at close of State case – S 174 ........................................................................................................................ 5
Case law on discharge ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Viva Voce Evidence, cross examination & closing address .......................................................................................... 7
Court may call witness – S 186 ...................................................................................................................................... 8
Case law on S 186 ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Unreasonable delay – S 35(3)(d) of Constitution ........................................................................................................... 8
Unreasonable delay – S 342A (added in 1996) ......................................................................................................... 9
Case law on delays .................................................................................................................................................. 10
Unit 12 – Judgment & Sentence ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Judgment stage ............................................................................................................................................................. 11
Judicial officer may convict or acquit Accused depending on following ................................................................ 11
Competency verdicts ............................................................................................................................................... 12
Sentence ....................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Sentence procedure ................................................................................................................................................. 14
Sentence by judicial officer/judge other than judicial officer/judge who convicted Accused – S 275.................... 14
Nature of punishments ............................................................................................................................................ 15
Child Justice Act ..................................................................................................................................................... 17
Case law on sentence .............................................................................................................................................. 17
Unit 13 – Post Trial Phase: Appeal & Review.................................................................................................................. 18
Review procedures ....................................................................................................................................................... 19
Automatic reviews – S 302 ..................................................................................................................................... 19
Special reviews........................................................................................................................................................ 19
Powers & functions of court of review ................................................................................................................... 19
Appeals ........................................................................................................................................................................ 20
Preliminary Requirements at lower court ................................................................................................................ 20
Applications ............................................................................................................................................................ 20
Powers & functions of court on appeal ................................................................................................................... 20
Case law on appeal/review ...................................................................................................................................... 21
1
, Unit 10 – Plea phase
Once Accused pleaded not guilty –
no obligation give reasons or answer
o Constitution – S 35(1) any questions court may have
➢ Everyone who is arrested for allegedly committing offence has right to (always has right to remain silent)
(a) Remain silent
(b) Be informed promptly of right to remain silent & consequences of not remaining silent
VARIOUS PLEAS – S 106
o Accused may plead that
➢ (a) He is guilty of offence charged or any offence of which he may be convicted on the charge
➢ (b) He is not guilty
➢ (c) He has already been convicted of offence
When Accused has turned State
➢ (d) He has already been acquitted of offence charged witness (incriminates himself but
➢ (e) He has received free pardon from State President for offence charged helps State convict another Accused)
➢ (f) Court has no jurisdiction to try offence
➢ (g) He has been discharged under provisions of S 204 from prosecution for offence charged
➢ (h) Prosecutor has no title to prosecute
➢ (i) Prosecution may not be resumed or instituted owing to order by court under S 342A(3)(c) Court finds
delays
o Accused who pleads to charge, other than plea that court has no jurisdiction to try offence
➢ Shall be entitled to demand that he be acquitted or be convicted
Annexure D (Ally &
PLEA OF GUILTY – S 112 Mokoena)
o S 112(1): If Accused pleads guilty to offence charged, or to offence of which he may be convicted on the charge
(Competent charge) & prosecutor accepts that plea:
o Serious offences vs minor offences
➢ Offence is serious if it merits punishment of:
Imprisonment
Any other form of detention without option of a fine
Fine exceeding amount determined by Minister (R5 000)
o S 112(1)(a): Presiding judge/regional magistrate/magistrate may
➢ If of opinion that offence is minor
➢ Convict Accused of offence to which he has pleaded guilty on his plea of guilty only & impose sentence
Accused not legally represented Ie if Prosecutor of view that offence serious
(knows previous convictions) will ask court
to proceed with pleadings in terms of (b)
o S 112(1)(b): Presiding judge/magistrate (RD/DC) shall
➢ If of opinion that offence is serious or requested thereto by prosecutor
➢ Question Accused with reference to alleged facts of case in order to ascertain whether he admits allegations in
the charge to which he has pleaded guilty; &
➢ If satisfied that Accused is guilty of offence to which he pleaded guilty
May convict Accused on his plea of guilty of that offence & impose any competent sentence
Accused legally represented Instead of
questions
o S 112(2): If Accused or his legal adviser hands written statement by Accused into court
➢ In which Accused sets out facts he admits & on which he has pleaded guilty – court may:
In lieu of questioning Accused under ss (1)(b) Admits all
elements of charge
Convict Accused on strength of such statement & sentence him
If court is satisfied that Accused is guilty of offence to which he has pleaded guilty
➢ Provided: court may in its discretion put any question to Accused in order to clarify any matter raised in statement
o With regard to sentence – nothing in S 112 shall prevent: All qualified by “with
➢ Prosecutor from presenting evidence on any aspect of charge regard to sentence”
➢ Court from hearing evidence (incl. evidence or statement by/on behalf of Accused)
➢ Court from questioning Accused on any aspect of the case for purposes of determining appropriate sentence
2
, (a) = no questioning
Correction of plea of guilty – S 113 (b) = questioning
(2) = written statement
o If court at any stage of proceedings
➢ Under S 112(1)(a)/(b)/(2) & before sentence is passed:
1. Is in doubt whether Accused is (in law) guilty of offence to which he has pleaded guilty; or
2. If it is alleged or appears to court that Accused does not admit an allegation in charge; or
3. That Accused has incorrectly admitted any such allegation; or
4. That Accused has valid defence to the charge; or
5. If court is of opinion for any other reason that Accused's plea of guilty should not stand
➢ Court shall record plea of not guilty & require prosecutor to proceed with prosecution
o Any allegation, other than 1 referred to above, admitted by Accused up to stage where court records plea of not guilty
➢ Shall stand as proof in any court of such allegation.
NB only the elements admitted!
o If court record plea of not guilty, before any evidence has been led
➢ Prosecution shall proceed on original charge laid against Accused, unless prosecutor explicitly indicates otherwise
PLEA OF NOT GUILTY – S 115 Annexure F (Ally &
Mokoena) + page 113
o If Accused pleads not guilty to offence charged – S 115(1)
➢ Presiding judge/magistrate MAY ask him whether he wishes to make statement indicating basis of his defence
o Where Accused does not make statement under ss (1) or does so & it is not clear from statement to what extent he
denies or admits issues raised by the plea – S 115(2)(a)
➢ Court MAY question Accused in order to establish which allegations in charge are in dispute
Asks: can admission
o Court may in its discretion – S 115(2)(b) be recorded?
➢ Put any question to Accused in order to clarify any matter &
➢ Court shall enquire from Accused whether allegation which is not placed in issue by plea of not guilty, may be
recorded as admission by Accused of that allegation
If Accused so consents – admission shall be recorded & shall be deemed to be admission under S 220
o Where Accused’s legal adviser replies on his behalf (writing/orally) to any question by court under S 115
➢ Accused shall be required by court to declare whether he confirms such reply or not
Agreement only allowed
PLEA AND SENTENCE AGREEMENT – S 105A if Accused represented
o Prosecutor authorised (in writing by NDPP) & Accused who is legally represented may, (before pleads) negotiate &
enter into agreement in respect of:
➢ Plea of guilty by Accused to offence charged or offence of which he may be convicted on charge; &
➢ If Accused is convicted of offence to which he has agreed to plead guilty – = competent
1. A just sentence to be imposed by court; or charge
2. Postponement of the passing of sentence; or
3. Just sentence to be imposed by court, of which operation of the whole/any part is to be suspended; &
4. If applicable, an award for compensation
Requirements to be met by prosecutor
Might know
background better
o Prosecutor may enter into an agreement (3):
➢ 1. After consultation with person charged with investigation of case;
➢ 2. With due regard to
(i) Nature of & circumstances relating to the offence
(ii) Personal circumstances of Accused
(iii) Previous convictions of Accused
(iv) Interests of the community
➢ 3. After affording complainant/his representative opportunity to make representations to prosecutor regarding
contents of agreement & inclusion in the agreement of conditions relating to:
Compensation; or
Rendering to complainant of specific benefit / service in lieu of compensation for damage or pecuniary loss
Content of agreement: Prosecutor not
bound by agreement
3
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