PART 2COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL

CHAPTER 2DIRECT COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL IN CERTAIN CASES

Direct committal for trial: specified offences

11Direct committal: specified offences

1

Where—

a

this Chapter applies in relation to an accused charged with an offence, and

b

the offence is a specified offence,

the court shall forthwith commit the accused to the Crown Court for trial for the offence (and accordingly shall not conduct committal proceedings in relation to that offence).

2

Where the court commits an accused for trial for an offence under this section, the functions of the court then cease in relation to that offence, except as provided by—

a

section 13; or

b

Article 29(2)(a) of the Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 or any regulations under Article 26(3) of the Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

3

For the purposes of this Chapter a specified offence is—

a

murder;

b

manslaughter;

c

an offence—

i

of aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting the commission of an offence specified above;

ii

of conspiring to commit an offence so specified;

iii

of attempting to commit an offence so specified;

iv

under Part 2 of the Serious Crime Act 2007 (encouraging or assisting crime) in relation to an offence specified above.

4

The Department may by order amend subsection (3).