{"id":83,"date":"2025-12-05T06:08:42","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T06:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/courts\/?page_id=83"},"modified":"2025-12-09T09:38:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T09:38:11","slug":"trial","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/courts\/courts\/criminal\/trial\/","title":{"rendered":"Trial"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Courts<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Criminal Proceedings<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Trial<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n
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Criminal Trials<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

This page explains the process for a criminal trial in each court, including the Summary Court, the Magistrate\u2019s Court, and the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Summary Court<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Judges: 2 or 3 Justices of the Peace with their Legal Adviser.  The Legal Adviser is there to advise the Justices of the Peace on matters of law.  They are not there to make decisions on matters of fact (guilty or not guilty)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Court attire: Business<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What will happen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Prosecution case – the prosecution will open the case and present their evidence.  If any witnesses are called, you will be given an opportunity to ask questions of them as well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Defence case – after the prosecution have closed their case, it will be your turn to present evidence and call any witnesses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Prosecution closing – at the end your case, the prosecution will have an opportunity to address the court and summarise their case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Defence closing – this is your opportunity to address the court and summarise your case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Legal Advice to the bench – the Legal Adviser will summarise the evidence that has been presented in the case and remind the Justices of the Peace of the issues in the case (what they need to make a decision on).  The legal adviser will also provide the Justices of the Peace with any legal directions that apply (e.g. identity, special measures, alibi).  These directions will be agreed with the prosecution and defence before they are given.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Bench will retire to reach a verdict.  When the bench have made their decision, they will return to court and give their decision with reasons.  If there is a guilty verdict they may proceed to sentencing or adjourn sentencing for another day if they require a pre-sentence report.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Magistrate’s Court<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Judge: Senior Magistrate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Court attire: Robes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What will happen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Prosecution case – the prosecution will open the case and present their evidence.  If any witnesses are called, you will be given an opportunity to ask questions of them as well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Defence case – after the prosecution have closed their case, it will be your turn to present evidence and call any witnesses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Prosecution closing – at the end your case, the prosecution will have an opportunity to address the court and summarise their case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Defence closing – this is your opportunity to address the court and summarise your case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Before the Senior Magistrate retires to decide their verdict they will give themselves any legal directions that apply (e.g. identity, special measures, alibi).  These directions will be agreed with the prosecution and defence before they are given in open court.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Judge will retire to reach a verdict.  When the Judge has made their decision, they will return to court and give their decision with reasons.  If there is a guilty verdict they may proceed to sentencing or adjourn sentencing for another day if they require a pre-sentence report.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Supreme Court<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Judge: Chief Justice or Acting Judge (with or without a Jury)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Court attire: Robes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Before a trial takes place in the Supreme Court, you will be arraigned (asked to enter your plea to the charges on the Indictment).  If you enter a not guilty plea on an Indictment, you will be asked to select either trial by Judge & Jury or trial by Judge alone.  A full explanation will be provided to you in court.  This hearing is the first hearing before the Supreme Court after your case has been sent by the Summary Court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      What will happen with a Judge & Jury?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. The Jury will be empanelled (sworn in) before the trial begins.  The role of the Jury in the trial is to determine if you are innocent or guilty.  The Judge’s role in your trial is to ensure the trial is conducted fairly and to explain the law to the Jury.  A Jury panel in the Falkland Islands is seven (7) people, unless you face a charge of murder or treason which is twelve (12) people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Prosecution case – the prosecution will open the case and present their evidence.  If any witnesses are called, you will be given an opportunity to ask questions of them as well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Defence case – after the prosecution have closed their case, it will be your turn to present evidence and call any witnesses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Prosecution closing – at the end your case, the prosecution will have an opportunity to address the court and summarise their case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. Defence closing – this is your opportunity to address the court and summarise your case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      6. Before the Jury retires to consider their verdict, the Judge will summarise the evidence for them and provide them with any relevant legal directions (e.g. identity, special measures, alibi).  These directions will be agreed with the prosecution and defence before they are given in open court.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      7. The Jury will retire to reach a verdict and then they will return to court and give their decision.  The Jury will not give reasons for their decision.  If there is a guilty verdict the Judge may proceed to sentencing or adjourn sentencing for another day if they require a pre-sentence report.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        What will happen with a Judge?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Prosecution case – the prosecution will open the case and present their evidence.  If any witnesses are called, you will be given an opportunity to ask questions of them as well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Defence case – after the prosecution have closed their case, it will be your turn to present evidence and call any witnesses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Prosecution closing – at the end your case, the prosecution will have an opportunity to address the court and summarise their case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Defence closing – this is your opportunity to address the court and summarise your case.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Before the Judge retires to consider their verdict, the Judge will summarise the evidence and give themselves any relevant legal directions (e.g. identity, special measures, alibi).  These directions will be agreed with the prosecution and defence before they are given in open court.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        6. The Judge will retire to consider their verdict.  Once they have reached their decision, they will return to court and provide reasons for their decision. If there is a guilty verdict the Judge may proceed to sentencing or adjourn sentencing for another day if they require a pre-sentence report.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          <\/div>\n\n\n\n

          More Information:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          \n
          Coming to court or tribunal to give evidence<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
          Time off work & Expenses<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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          Useful Links:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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          The Magistrates’ Court Bench Book<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          This may be used by the Summary Court, but will be adapated in accordance with Falkland Islands Legislation.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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          The Crown Court Compendium<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

          This is used in the Magistrate’s Court and the Supreme Court but will be adapated in accordance with Falkland Islands Legislation. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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          The Equal Treatment Bench Book<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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          Sentencing Guidelines<\/a>nal Procedure Rules 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

          <\/div>\n\n\n\n
          \n

          For more information, please contact
          the Courts & Tribunals Department<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          You\u2019ll find our office hours, location, and full contact details below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
          Contact us<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Summary Court Judges: 2 or 3 Justices of the Peace with their Legal Adviser.  The Legal Adviser is there to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":79,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-83","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCriminal Trials<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This page explains the process for a criminal trial in each court, including the Summary Court, the Magistrate\u2019s Court, and the Supreme Court.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/courts\/courts\/criminal\/trial\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Criminal Trials\" 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