What are the rights of the accused?

The rights of the accused are: the right to a fair trial; due process; to seek redress or a legal remedy; and rights of participation in civil society and politics such as freedom of association, the right to assemble, the right to petition, the right of self-defense, and the right to vote.

What are the stages of trial?

Pretrial Stage – discovery process, finding of facts. Trial Stage – seating of the jury, testimony on behalf of the plaintiffs and testimony on behalf of the defendants. Post Trial – concluding arguments, judge’s charge to the jury, jury deliberations, announcement of judgment, motions for new trial or appeal.

Who is the accused person?

The term ” accused ” has not been specifically defined in the code but what we generally understand is that the accused means the person charged with an infringement of the law for which he is liable and if convicted then to be punished. In other words, a person who is charged with the commission of offence.

What is an opening statement in a court case?

The opening statement at the beginning of the trial is limited to outlining facts. This is each party’s opportunity to set the basic scene for the jurors, introduce them to the core dispute(s) in the case, and provide a general road map of how the trial is expected to unfold.

What are the 14 steps in a trial?

Terms in this set (14)

step 1: pre-trial proceedings.
step 2: jury is selected.
step 3: opening statement by plaintiff or prosecution.
step 4: opening statement by defense.
step 5: direct examination by plaintiff/ prosecution.
step 6: cross examination by defense.
step 7: motions to dismiss or ask for a directed verdict.

What does accused process mean?

The procedure includes the manner for collection of evidence, examination of witnesses, interrogation of accused, arrests, safeguards and procedure to be adopted by Police and Courts, bail, the process of criminal trial, a method of conviction, and the rights of the accused of a fair trial by principles of natural …

What should you not do in an opening statement?

In this article I will discuss with you the five most damaging mistakes you can make in an opening statement.

“What I say is not evidence…”
Do Not Waste Your Opening Statement Primacy.
Do Not Start On A Boring Part Of The Story.
Do Not Set Out To Disprove The Other Side’s Story.
Do Not Ignore The Bad Facts.

Why are the rights of the accused important?

The Right to Trial By Jury: If you are accused of a crime, you have the right to request a trial by jury. Essentially, this right exists to protect you from any discrimination on the part of authorities by putting the ultimate determination regarding your guilt or innocence in the hands of your fellow citizens.

What are the 7 steps of a trial?

Criminal Trial Phases

Choosing a Jury.
Opening Statements.
Witness Testimony and Cross-Examination.
Closing Arguments.
Jury Instruction.
Jury Deliberation and Announcement of Verdict.

Are Opening statements considered evidence?

The lawyers each make an opening statement outlining what they intend to prove. Jurors should understand that these opening statements are not evidence. Afterward, the plaintiff is usually the first to present evidence to support his or her position, and the defendant follows with his or her evidence.

How do you win criminal case?

Here is what it takes to win:

Be relentless. A criminal trial is a crucible or defining moment that will forever change the accused’s life.
Be honest with your attorney. Criminal cases will often involve personal matters.
Understand the gravity of the situation.
Trust your lawyer.
Have a support system in place.

What does accused mean?

1 : to charge with a fault or offense : blame He accused her of being disloyal. 2 : to charge with an offense judicially or by a public process He was accused of murder.

How are the rights of the accused protected?

fifth amendment. The Fifth Amendment includes many of the provisions dealing with the rights of the accused; accordingly, it is one of the longest in the Bill of Rights. The Fifth Amendment also protects individuals against double jeopardy, which is prosecuting a person twice for the same criminal charges.

Who says the opening statement?

The opening statement is the lawyer’s first opportunity to address the jury in a trial. Generally, the party who bears the burden of proof (plaintiff in a civil case or prosecution in a criminal case) begins the opening statements, followed immediately after by the adverse party (defendant).

What are opening and closing statements?

As the terms suggest, an “opening statement” comes at the beginning of the trial, while a “closing argument” occurs at the end of the trial after all the evidence is established.

How does a criminal case begin?

A criminal case usually gets started with a police arrest report. The prosecutor then decides what criminal charges to file, if any. Some cases go to a preliminary hearing, where a judge decides if there is enough evidence to proceed. Cases can also start when a grand jury issues a criminal indictment.

How do you write an opening statement in court?

Opening Statement Checklist

State your theme immediately in one sentence.
Tell the story of the case without argument.
Persuasively order your facts in a sequence that supports your theme.
Decide whether to address the bad facts in the opening or not.
Do not read your opening statement.
Bring an outline, if necessary.

How do you win a trial?

6 Body Language Tips for Winning in Court

Stay in character, even when you don’t have a speaking role. “Your audience – the jury – is watching you from the moment they walk in, long before you say anything.
Look in the mirror to study your neutral, resting expression.
Try to maintain a subtle, composed smile at all times.
Kill them with kindness.

What are the 12 steps of a criminal trial?

Assuming that the criminal trial is carried out to completion, those procedures tend to include the following:

Judge or Jury Trial.
Jury selection.
Evidence issues.
Opening statements.
Prosecution case-in-chief.
Cross-examination.
Prosecution rests.
Motion to dismiss (optional).

What do judges say at the beginning of court?

They ask everyone to stand up to show respect for the Judge, the court and the law by saying: “All rise. This court is now in session.” Judge comes in, sits down and tells everyone else to be seated. Judge tells everyone what the trial is about.

What are the rights of the accused under the Constitution?

(2) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall be presumed innocent until the contrary is proved, and shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to have a speedy, impartial, and public trial, to meet the witnesses face to face.

What comes after an opening statement?

Following the opening statements, the attorney for the plaintiff presents evidence. Thereafter, the defendant may or may not choose to present evidence as he or she sees fit. Evidence falls into 2 classes: testimony and exhibits. Testimony consists of statements made by witnesses under oath.

What is accused in law?

A person to whom a formal information containing an allegation of a criminal offence has been delivered, or a person arrested for a criminal offence. Related Terms: Accusation, Information, Defendant.

What are the 8 steps in a criminal case?

The 8 Steps of Criminal Proceedings

Step 1: Arrest. An arrest is the initial stage in the criminal process in which an individual accused of a crime is taken into custody.
Step 2: Charges.
Step 3: Arraignment.
Step 4: Pretrial Proceedings.
Step 5: Trial.
Step 6: Verdict.
Step 7: Sentencing.
Step 8: Appeal.