I don know anything about the criminal justice system. What are the basic steps in a criminal prosecution?
The first step occurs when police charge an alleged offender (defendant). The defendant may apply for bail. If bail is refused, the defendant may re-apply at any time until the case ends. The defendant first appears in the Magistrates Court, where the matter is adjourned while a hearing date is set. Police send the ‘brief’ to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). It includes the statements of the witnesses, the charges, photographs and other relevant material. The case is given to an ODPP solicitor who specialises in the Magistrates Court to conduct what is known as the ‘committal hearing’. Unless specifically requested, victims and witnesses are not required to attend the Magistrates Court. The Magistrate will decide if there is enough evidence for the defendant to be tried in the District Court or the Supreme Court. If the Magistrate decides that there is enough evidence to proceed, the defendant is ‘committed for trial’. If a defendant is committed for trial, he/
