COURT VISIT REPORT

Court Visit Report



Court Visit Report

Part A

Name and address of the court visited

Court name: Snaresbrook Crown court.

Address:

75 Hollybush HillSnaresbrook LondonEngland E11 1QW

The crown court deals with criminal cases that are class 1 offences such as murder, class 2 offenses such as rape, class 3 offenses such as death by dangerous driving and class 4 offenses such ad GBH. The Crown court cases are tried by a high court judge for rape and murder and either a high court judge or circuit judge.

I reached at the court at 9:30 a.m. in the morning. I was asked by my professor to meet the usher as to ask the details of the day. Usher told me that there were two major cases whose final decisions were to be taken that day. Since, I was allowed to go in one in the given time, I chose the case of murder.

Date visited and time spent at the court

Date of court visit: 10th March 2012.

Courtroom visited: court 1.

Judge: T. Lamb QC. (Queen's Counsel)

Name of case viewed: Trial part heard; Kelly Mousie (murder case)

Representation: V. Girling QC (Instructed by L. Lewis solicitors) for the defendant. G. Reece QC (Instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service) for the Crown

How many court officials (i.e. excluding lawyers, judges, the jury, magistrates) were present? What were their titles and functions?

The case I observed was a murder case of a girl. The crown court cases are decided by the jury through evidence that is bought up in the case. The people involved in this case were the high court judge seated at the top to show high status, 12 members of the jury, the usher, the defendant, the prosecution and the clerk (Anthony 2002, 91). The court was very formal, and the atmosphere was very respectful, as the judge walked in, we all stood up in honour. No one interrupted any one while they were speaking, and the public was absolutely quite throughout.

Description of the judge and the jurors

On Monday, the 10th of March 2012, I attended Snaresbrook Crown court at court 1 which was hearing a case on a murder of a girl named Kelly.

The Court consisted of 12 jurors. Jurors chosen at random, they all were British citizens, aged 18 to 70 years. As in any criminal proceedings, the use of the language was very formal. The defendant Mr. Abdul, who was inside the court sitting in the dock, was being defended by barrister V. Girling QC, where barrister G. Reece was on the prosecution side representing the family of the murdered girl. The twelve members of the jury were brought in by order of the judge who instructed the usher to allow them in via the near side door.

The defence argued on the fact that the girl was not murdered by Abdul as he was the one who theft her purse. The defence barrister also argued on the good character evidence of their client to be taken into consideration and request this to the judge ...