The Scottish Criminal Courts in Action

This book is intended to provide a readable and accessible guide to procedure in the Scottish criminal courts at all levels. It is aimed especially at the student taking the course in advocacy and pleading in the Diploma in Legal Practice. It is also likely to be of use to the practitioner, who should find in it, if not a complete answer to every problem, at least an indication of where to look further in order to discover a solution.;The approach is based on that of the English textbook ""The Criminal Court in Action"" by David Barnard. Thus it commences with a detailed account of two fictitious cases, one solemn and one summary, following their progress from the commission of the crime to final disposal by way of verdict and sentence. There then follows a reasonably detailed examination of the procedure in criminal cases both at first instance (including sentencing) and on appeal. As well as describing procedural rules with reference to the relevant statutes, subordinate legislation and cases, the book also contains some practical advice on the preparation for and conduct of cases in court. The final chapters deal with the topics of the mentally disordered, children, private prosecutions and references to the European Court.