No versions valid at: 01/05/2005
Point in time view as at 01/05/2005. This version of this cross heading contains provisions that are not valid for this point in time.
Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, Cross Heading: Unfitness for trial is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 09 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Valid from 25/06/2012
Textual Amendments
F1S. 53F and preceding cross-heading inserted (prosp.) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 170(1), 206(1)
(1)A person is unfit for trial if it is established on the balance of probabilities that the person is incapable, by reason of a mental or physical condition, of participating effectively in a trial.
(2)In determining whether a person is unfit for trial the court is to have regard to—
(a)the ability of the person to—
(i)understand the nature of the charge,
(ii)understand the requirement to tender a plea to the charge and the effect of such a plea,
(iii)understand the purpose of, and follow the course of, the trial,
(iv)understand the evidence that may be given against the person,
(v)instruct and otherwise communicate with the person's legal representative, and
(b)any other factor which the court considers relevant.
(3)The court is not to find that a person is unfit for trial by reason only of the person being unable to recall whether the event which forms the basis of the charge occurred in the manner described in the charge.
(4)In this section “the court” means—
(a)as regards a person charged on indictment, the High Court or the sheriff court,
(b)as regards a person charged summarily, the sheriff court.]
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