Summary
Summary SPR 421 Study unit 5 to 8
- Course
- Criminal Procedure (SPR421)
- Institution
- University Of Pretoria (UP)
In-depth summary of Study Unit 5 to 8 for semester test 2. Entails class summaries and summaries of textbook.
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SPR 420Study Unit 5 to 8 Summaries
Contents
Study Unit 5: Pleas which may be raised by accused.............................................................1
5.1 Section 106...................................................................................................................1
5.2 Plea of prior conviction or acquittal...............................................................................2
5.3 Pardon by the president..............................................................................................10
5.4 Plea to jurisdiction of the court....................................................................................11
5.5 Discharge from prosecution........................................................................................11
5.6 Lack of authority of the prosecutor..............................................................................12
5.7 Plea as to an order of court on an unreasonable delay in a trial..................................12
5.8 Lis pendens................................................................................................................. 14
5.9 Pleas in case of criminal defamation...........................................................................15
5.10 S 106(4):After pleading accused is entitled to verdict................................................15
Study Unit 6: Guilty plea.......................................................................................................16
6.1 Introduction................................................................................................................. 17
6.2 Child offender.............................................................................................................. 19
6.3 Questioning by the Presiding official...........................................................................19
6.4 Accused's version.......................................................................................................21
6.5 Prosecutor's role......................................................................................................... 21
6.5 Statement by accused instead of questioning.............................................................22
6.6 Evidence or questioning with regard to sentencing.....................................................24
6.7 Correction of plea of guilty (S 113)..............................................................................24
6.8 Committal for sentence by regional court (S 114).......................................................25
6.9 Amendment of plea from ‘guilty’ to ‘not guilty’.............................................................26
Study Unit 7: Not guilty plea.................................................................................................28
Study Unit 8: Trial & verdict..................................................................................................34
(Chapter 17)...................................................................................................................... 34
8.1.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 34
8.1.2 Seven fundamental principles which govern a criminal trial..................................35
8.1.3 Case for the prosecution......................................................................................45
8.1.4 Discharge of accused at end of states case.........................................................48
8.1.5 The Defence case................................................................................................51
1
, 8.1.6 Final arguments by prosecution & defence...........................................................52
The Verdict (Chapter 18)...................................................................................................53
8.2.1 Introduction........................................................................................................... 53
8.2.2 Verdict to be delivered within reasonable time......................................................53
8.2.3 Court required to give reasons.............................................................................54
8.2.4 Competent verdicts...............................................................................................55
8.2.5 S 176 CPA: Courts amendment to its own verdict................................................60
2
,Study Unit 5: Pleas which may be raised by accused
Know the different pleas available to an accused
5.1 Section 106
Provides that the accused may plead:
1. That he is guilty of the offence charged or of any offence of which he may be
convicted on the charge
2. That he is not guilty
3. That he has already been convicted of the offence with which he is charged (autrefois
convict)
4. That he has already been acquitted of the offence with which he is charged
(autrefois acquit)
5. That he has received a free pardon from the President for the offence charged
6. That the court has no jurisdiction to try the offence
7. That he has been discharged from prosecution ito s 204 after giving satisfactory
evidence for the State
8. That the prosecutor has not title to prosecute
9. That the prosecution may not be resumed or instituted owing to an order by a court
under s 342A(3)(c)
S 106(2): States that 2 or more pleas may be pleaded together except that a plea of guilty cannot be
pleaded with any other plea to the same charge
S 106(3): Prosecutor must be given reasonable notice by the accused of his intention to plead a plea
other than a plea of guilt or not guilty
S 106(4): Except for plea that the court lacks jurisdiction or where court enters a plea of guilty on
behalf of accused → an accused who pleads to charge shall be entitled to conviction or an acquittal
Two possibilities found elsewhere:
o Truth and public benefit:
S 107: accused may plead this where the charge is one of criminal
defamation
1
, Defence must be specifically pleaded and may be pleaded with any other
plea except a plea of guilty
Act does not make provision for the plea that the defamatory words were
excused as fair comment or that they were privileged or spoken in jest.
o Lis pendens
= Issue before the court is subject of adjudication before another court
Not specifically provided for in Act
5.2 Plea of prior conviction or acquittal
a) Constitutional provision
Discuss the pleas autrefois acquit and/or autrefois convict with reference to s 35(3)(m) of the
Constitution.
S 35(3)(m) Constitution
Every accused person has the right to a fair trial, which includes the right...not to be tried for an
offence in respect of an act or omission for which that person has previously been either
acquitted or convicted.
Constitutional provision embodies double jeopardy principle:
o Prevents anyone being tried twice for the same crime
o Latin maxim is Nemo debet bis vexari pro una et eadem causa (No person shall be
harassed twice for the same cause)
Accused may evade a 2nd prosecution even though was acquitted previously on same charge by
pleading autrefois acquit
o And if convicted prev for same offence → plead autrefois convict
Principle applies to following situations:
o Prosecution is not entitled to try accused in piecemeal fashion
As seen in the case of McIntrye:
Accused acquitted in 1 st trial on charge of assault w/ intent to
commit GBH but prosecution instituted 2 nd prosecution on same
facts on charge of murder (victim had died of injuries on day of
assault)
2
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