Chapter 7 Self-test questions

. A trial in a magistrates' court is called a ______ trial.

. Magistrates don't have to consider bail in every case and can deny bail without giving a reason why.

True

False

. Can magistrates grant bail to a defendant accused of murder?

No, only a Crown court judge can do this

Yes, if the bail arrangement satisfies the magistrates

Yes, but only if the defendant has no previous conviction for violence

No, because no court can grant bail in a murder case

. What is a surety?

The promise that a defendant will return to court for trial

One of defendant's friends or family who will pay a sum of money if the defendant fails to turn up at court

A sum of money paid by the defendant if they fail to turn up at court

A legal document which grants bail

. Section 8C of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 imposes ______ restrictions limiting contemporaneous reporting of pre-trial hearings.

. Legal arguments over evidence in a pre-trial hearing heard in a magistrates' court can only be reported if:

The case progresses to a Crown court

The evidence being debated was declared not to be relevant

The evidence being debated was later allowed in court

The case is disposed of

. What is an 'evidence-in-chief?

The evidence offered by a chief witness

The written evidence the court presents at trial

The evidence put forth by both the prosecutor and defendant at trial

The main evidence a witness gives before being cross-examined

. A defendant is convicted of two offences, and is sentenced to 3 months jail for one offence and 6 months for the other, with these sentences to be concurrent. In these circumstances, what is the total length of time to which they have been sentenced?

9 months

3 months

6 months

Four-and-a-half months

. If a court gives a defendant an absolute discharge, what does this mean?

The defendant has been acquitted because there is insufficient evidence

The defendant has been granted unconditional bail because the trial has been delayed

The defendant has been convicted but will not be punished for that offence unless he/she commits a further offence

The defendant has been convicted but the court did not consider that punishment should be imposed

. 'Binding over' in itself is not a conviction. But what is it?

When a defendant agrees to come back to court in the future

When a defendant agrees to pay a set sum of money if they 'breach the peace' in a specific period of time

When a defendant agrees not to 'breach the peace' for 12 months or they will be jailed

The same as a suspended sentence

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