marlywings
Former Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2012
- Messages
- 12,282
- Reaction score
- 144
What has been posted above from the Qld Govt Courts and Tribunals, does not conflict with what I said in my post.
The defendant can attend via video conference, not necessarily in person.
In point 4 above, the defence lawyer or the defendant can answer that the plea is reserved. That means that no plea is entered at this time, but held until another time.
Posting a bit more from the same website:-
Indictable offences
If the defendant pleads guilty to a minor indictable offence, the magistrate can decide the penalty at the first mention or will set a date for a sentence hearing.
For other indictable offences the magistrate will set a committal hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to send the defendant to trial in either the Supreme Court or District Court.
Further mentions
A magistrate may set other mentions before a summary hearing to confirm each side has sufficient evidence, organised witnesses and the defendant has finalised their plea.
Hope this clarifies.
Thanks KG....just had a look at all the dates in Sica's case although can't find the first "mention" dates.
2008
December 30 2008 - Sica arrested and charged with three counts of murder (2003)
2009
January - Sica applies for and is refused bail.
August - Sica's committal hearing begins. It will run for 94 days over the course of the next 18 months.
December - Sica makes a second bid for bail, which is refused despite his father offering a $900,000 surety. He later loses an appeal against this bail refusal.
2010
December - Sica is committed to stand trial for murder
2011
August - Sica loses a bid for a judge-only trial. He argued a fair trial by jury would be impossible because of the intense media coverage.
2012
January 31 - Sica pleads not guilty to three counts of murder on the first day of his Supreme Court trial
Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/que...se-unfolded-20120703-21f4b.html#ixzz201MvO0bA