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PART IXS Summary Proceedings

First dietS

144 Procedure at first diet.S

(1)Where the accused is present at the first calling of the case in a summary prosecution and—

(a)the complaint has been served on him, or

(b)the complaint or the substance thereof has been read to him, or

(c)he has legal assistance in his defence,

he shall, unless the court adjourns the case under the section 145 [F1or 145ZA] of this Act and subject to subsection (4) below, be asked to plead to the charge.

(2)Where the accused is not present at a calling of the case in a summary prosecution and either—

(a)the prosecutor produces to the court written intimation that the accused pleads not guilty or pleads guilty F2. . .

(b)counsel or a solicitor, or a person not being counsel or a solicitor who satisfies the court that he is authorised by the accused, appears on behalf of the accused and tenders a plea of not guilty or a plea of guilty,

subsection (3) below shall apply.

(3)Where this subsection applies—

(a)in the case of a plea of not guilty, this Part of this Act except section 146(2) shall apply in like manner as if the accused had appeared and tendered the plea; and

(b)in the case of a plea of guilty, the court may, if the prosecutor accepts the plea, proceed to hear and dispose of the case in the absence of the accused in like manner as if he had appeared and pled guilty, or may, if it thinks fit, continue the case to another diet and require the attendance of the accused with a view to pronouncing sentence in his presence.

[F3(3ZA)Where the prosecutor is not satisfied, in relation to a written intimation of a plea—

(a)that the intimation of the plea has been made or authorised by the accused; or

(b)that the terms of the plea are clear,

the court may continue the case to another diet.

(3ZB)The clerk of court may perform the functions of the court under—

(a)subsections (2) and (3) above in relation to a plea of not guilty;

(b)subsection (3ZA) above,

without the court being properly constituted.]

[F4(3A)Where an accused charged with [F5an offence listed in subsection (3AA)(b)] is present, whether or not with a solicitor, at a calling of the case in a summary prosecution, he shall be told—

[F6(a)that his case at, or for the purposes of, any relevant hearing F7... in the course of the proceedings may be conducted only by a lawyer,]

(b)that it is, therefore, in his interests, if he has not already done so, to get the professional assistance of a solicitor; and

(c)that if he does not engage a solicitor for the purposes of [F8the conduct of his case at, or for the purposes of, the hearing], the court will do so.

[F9(3AA)For the purposes of subsection (3A)—

(a)“relevant hearing” is to be construed in accordance with section 288C(1A) or (as the case may be) 288DC(4),

(b)the list is—

(i)an offence to which section 288C applies (certain sexual offending),

(ii)an offence to which section 288DC applies (domestic abuse cases).]

(3B)A failure to comply with subsection (3A) above does not affect the validity or lawfulness of anything done at the calling of the case or any other element of the proceedings against the accused.]

(4)Any objection to the competency or relevancy of a summary complaint or the proceedings thereon, or any denial that the accused is the person charged by the police with the offence shall be stated before the accused pleads to the charge or any plea is tendered on his behalf.

(5)No objection or denial such as is mentioned in subsection (4) above shall be allowed to be stated or issued at any future diet in the case except with the leave of the court, which may be granted only on cause shown.

(6)Where in pursuance of subsection (3)(b) above the court proceeds to hear and dispose of a case in the absence of the accused, it shall not pronounce a sentence of imprisonment or of detention in a young offenders institution, remand centre or other establishment.

(7)In this section a reference to a plea of guilty shall include a reference to a plea of guilty to only part of the charge, but where a plea of guilty to only part of a charge is not accepted by the prosecutor it shall be deemed to be a plea of not guilty.

(8)It shall not be competent for any person appearing to answer a complaint, or for counsel or a solicitor appearing for the accused in his absence, to plead want of due citation or informality therein or in the execution thereof.

(9)In this section, a reference to the first calling of a case includes a reference to any adjourned diet fixed by virtue of section 145 [F10, 145ZA][F11or 145A] of this Act.

Textual Amendments