Pleading Not Guilty and Criminal Trials (1:VII): Difference between revisions
From Clicklaw Wikibooks
Pleading Not Guilty and Criminal Trials (1:VII) (view source)
Revision as of 19:13, 25 October 2016
, 25 October 2016→5. Directed verdict/ no evidence motion
Desy Wahyuni (talk | contribs) |
Desy Wahyuni (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 145: | Line 145: | ||
If the Crown failed to lead any evidence on any of the above, the defence should make a no evidence motion. This asks the judge to direct the acquittal of the accused on the ground that there is absolutely no evidence of some essential element of the offence. The test was articulated by Ritchie, J. in ''USA v Shephard'', above (also ''R v Charemski'', [1998] 1 SCR 679). Arguments by the Crown and defence will be heard. If the defence’s "no evidence" motion fails, the defence may then call its own evidence. | If the Crown failed to lead any evidence on any of the above, the defence should make a no evidence motion. This asks the judge to direct the acquittal of the accused on the ground that there is absolutely no evidence of some essential element of the offence. The test was articulated by Ritchie, J. in ''USA v Shephard'', above (also ''R v Charemski'', [1998] 1 SCR 679). Arguments by the Crown and defence will be heard. If the defence’s "no evidence" motion fails, the defence may then call its own evidence. | ||
:'''Note:''' The defence may make an insufficient evidence motion when the Crown has failed to bring sufficient evidence to prove a specific element of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt. If an insufficient evidence motion fails, the defence cannot call evidence. The only practical difference between making an insufficient evidence motion and calling no evidence, allowing Crown to make its closing argument, and then urging the court to acquit based on reasonable doubt is who presents closing argument on the point first. It is usually perceived an advantage to have the last word and hence insufficient evidence motions are typically only used in conjunction with a no evidence motion, where counsel is of the opinion that although a no evidence motion has just failed an insufficient evidence motion is very likely to succeed. | |||
=== 6. Presentation of defence case === | === 6. Presentation of defence case === | ||
