Procedure in the High Court

Initial Hearing:

• The charges are read out, and the accused is asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
• If the plea is guilty, the judge may proceed to pass the sentence immediately.
• If the plea is not guilty, the case proceeds to trial.

Trial Process:

• The trial involves both the prosecution and the defence presenting their cases.
• This includes making speeches, presenting evidence, and calling witnesses.
• The judge oversees the proceedings, ensuring legal standards are upheld.

Judge's Instructions:

• After the presentations, the judge sums up the case for the jury.
• The judge advises the jury on points of law relevant to the case.

Jury Deliberation:

• The jury discusses the case in private.
• Deliberations may take several days, especially in complex cases.

Verdict Announcement:

• The jury returns to the court to announce their verdict.
• If the verdict is guilty, the judge proceeds to sentence the accused.

Sentencing:

• The judge determines the appropriate sentence based on the nature of the crime and other relevant factors.

Not Guilty or 'Not Proven':

• If the accused is found not guilty or the charge is 'not proven' (when the jury suspects guilt but it's not proven beyond doubt), the accused is discharged.
• In principle, the individual cannot be retried for the same offence.