Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

Specified offences: application to dismiss

14.—(1) A person who is committed for trial on any charge or charges under section 11 or 12 may, at any time—

(a) after that person is served with copies of the documents containing the evidence on which the charge or charges are based; and

(b) before that person is arraigned (and whether or not an indictment has been presented against that person),

apply orally or in writing to the Crown Court sitting at the specified place of trial for the charge, or any of the charges, in the case to be dismissed.

(2) The judge shall dismiss a charge (and accordingly quash any count relating to it in any indictment presented against the applicant) if it appears to the judge that the evidence against the applicant would not be sufficient for the applicant to be properly convicted.

(3) No oral application may be made under subsection (1) unless the applicant has given the Crown Court sitting at the specified place of trial written notice of intention to make the application.

(4) Oral evidence may be given on such an application only with the leave of the judge or by order of the judge; and the judge shall give leave or make an order only if it appears to the judge, having regard to any matters stated in the application for leave, that the interests of justice require it.

(5) If the judge gives leave permitting, or makes an order requiring, a person to give oral evidence, but that person does not do so, the judge may disregard any document indicating the evidence that that person might have given.

(6) Dismissal of the charge, or all the charges, against the applicant has the same effect as a refusal by a magistrates’ court to commit for trial; except that no further proceedings may be brought on a dismissed charge except by means of the presentment of an indictment such as is specified in paragraph (c), (d) or (e) of section 2(2) of the Grand Jury (Abolition) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.

(7) Crown Court rules may make provision for the purposes of this section and may in particular make provision—

(a) as to the time or stage in the proceedings at which anything required to be done is to be done (unless the court grants leave to do it at some other time or stage);

(b) as to the contents and form of notices or other documents;

(c) as to the manner in which evidence is to be submitted; and

(d) as to persons to be served with notices or other material.