s.137Close of case for prosecution
137
Section 137Part 6Procedure in Trials before the Grand Court

Close of case for prosecution

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When the evidence of the prosecution witnesses has been concluded the court may, before or after considering any statement or hearing any evidence of the accused, invite first the prosecution and thereafter (at its discretion) the defence to address it upon the question of whether there is sufficient evidence before the court to warrant conviction of the accused, or any one or more of several accused of the offence charged or any relevant offence and if, either before or after hearing the address by the defence, it considers there is no such evidence it shall discharge the accused concerned and enter a verdict of not guilty with respect to such accused.
When the evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution has been concluded, and the statement or evidence, if any, of the accused person before the committing court has been given in evidence, the court, if it considers that there is evidence that the accused person or any one or more of several accused persons committed the offence, shall, if they are not being defended by counsel, inform each such accused person of that accused person's right to address the court, either personally or by that accused person's counsel, if any, to give evidence on that accused person's own behalf and to call witnesses in that accused person's defence, and in all cases shall require that accused person or that accused person's counsel to state whether it is intended to call any witnesses as to fact other than the accused person. Upon being informed thereof, the Judge shall record the same.