Gillian Frost (Advocacy Department) a \u00e9t\u00e9 charg\u00e9e de repr\u00e9senter l'un des accus\u00e9s dans un r\u00e9cent proc\u00e8s pour meurtre, qui s'est sold\u00e9 par un acquittement. L'un des aspects les plus novateurs de l'affaire a \u00e9t\u00e9 le recours \u00e0 un interm\u00e9diaire pour aider son client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defendant in question had significant learning difficulties and was in grave risk of being left at an unfair disadvantage without specialised assistance<\/a> to help him understand and follow the proceedings. Application was made for this support and granted. In the following article Gillian explains the legal background to this developing area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Section 16(1) of the Youth Justice and Criminal<\/a> Preuves<\/a> Act 1999 (the Act) made provision for the use of special measures in the case of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses to facilitate the giving of their evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n L'article 29 de cette loi permet l'audition d'un t\u00e9moin par le biais d'un interm\u00e9diaire comme l'une des mesures sp\u00e9ciales autoris\u00e9es.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Le recours \u00e0 des mesures sp\u00e9ciales pour les d\u00e9fendeurs a \u00e9t\u00e9 express\u00e9ment exclu par l'article 16(1) de la loi. Cependant, un amendement ajout\u00e9 par l'article 104 du Coroners and Justice Act 2009 a modifi\u00e9 la loi en y ins\u00e9rant l'article 33BA. Une partie de l'article 104 est reproduite ci-dessous :<\/p>\n\n\n\n (1) Le pr\u00e9sent article s'applique \u00e0 toute proc\u00e9dure (devant une magistrates\u2019 court ou devant la Crown Court) engag\u00e9e \u00e0 l'encontre d'une personne pour une infraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (2) La Cour peut, \u00e0 la demande de l'accus\u00e9, donner des instructions en vertu du paragraphe (3) si elle est convaincue que : - l'accus\u00e9 a \u00e9t\u00e9 condamn\u00e9 \u00e0 une peine d'emprisonnement d'une dur\u00e9e de trois ans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (a) that the condition is subsection (5) is or, as the case may be, the conditions<\/a> in subsection (6) are met in relation to the accused, and<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n (b) l'instruction est n\u00e9cessaire pour garantir un proc\u00e8s \u00e9quitable \u00e0 l'accus\u00e9.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n (3) Une instruction au titre du pr\u00e9sent paragraphe est une instruction qui pr\u00e9voit que tout interrogatoire de l'accus\u00e9 sera men\u00e9 par l'interm\u00e9diaire d'un interpr\u00e8te ou d'une autre personne agr\u00e9\u00e9e par le tribunal aux fins du pr\u00e9sent article (\u201cun interm\u00e9diaire\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n (4) La fonction d'un interm\u00e9diaire est de communiquer...<\/p>\n\n\n\n (a) \u00e0 l'accus\u00e9, les questions pos\u00e9es \u00e0 l'accus\u00e9, et<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n (b) aux personnes qui posent ces questions, les r\u00e9ponses donn\u00e9es par l'accus\u00e9 \u00e0 ces questions,<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n et d'expliquer ces questions ou r\u00e9ponses dans la mesure o\u00f9 cela est n\u00e9cessaire pour qu'elles soient comprises par l'accus\u00e9 ou la personne en question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (5) Lorsque l'accus\u00e9 est \u00e2g\u00e9 de moins de 18 ans au moment de l'introduction de la demande, la condition est que la capacit\u00e9 de l'accus\u00e9 \u00e0 participer efficacement \u00e0 la proc\u00e9dure en tant que t\u00e9moin d\u00e9posant oralement devant le tribunal soit compromise par le niveau de ses capacit\u00e9s intellectuelles ou de son fonctionnement social.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (6) Lorsque l'accus\u00e9 a atteint l'\u00e2ge de 18 ans au moment de la pr\u00e9sentation de la demande, les conditions sont les suivantes : - l'accus\u00e9 doit \u00eatre \u00e2g\u00e9 d'au moins 18 ans<\/p>\n\n\n\n (a) l'accus\u00e9 souffre de troubles mentaux (au sens de la loi sur la sant\u00e9 mentale de 1983) ou d'une d\u00e9ficience significative de l'intelligence et des fonctions sociales, et<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n (b) l'accus\u00e9 n'est pas en mesure, pour cette raison, de participer efficacement \u00e0 la proc\u00e9dure en tant que t\u00e9moin d\u00e9posant oralement devant le tribunal.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n (7) Tout interrogatoire de l'accus\u00e9 en application d'une instruction vis\u00e9e au paragraphe (3) doit avoir lieu en pr\u00e9sence des personnes pr\u00e9vues par les r\u00e8gles de proc\u00e9dure p\u00e9nale ou par l'instruction et dans des circonstances dans lesquelles<\/p>\n\n\n\n (a) le juge ou les juges (ou les deux) et les repr\u00e9sentants l\u00e9gaux agissant dans le cadre de la proc\u00e9dure sont en mesure de voir et d'entendre l'interrogatoire de l'accus\u00e9 et de communiquer avec l'interm\u00e9diaire, et<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n (b) le jury (s'il y en a un) est en mesure de voir et d'entendre l'interrogatoire de l'accus\u00e9, et<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n (c) lorsqu'il y a plusieurs accus\u00e9s dans la proc\u00e9dure, chacun des autres accus\u00e9s est en mesure de voir et d'entendre l'interrogatoire de l'accus\u00e9.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Aux fins du pr\u00e9sent paragraphe, il n'est pas tenu compte des troubles de la vue ou de l'ou\u00efe\u201d.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nonetheless, an application can succeed on the basis of the case of C v Sevenoaks Youth Court \u2013 EWHC 3088 (3\/11\/09), where an application was granted on behalf of a juvenile Defendant on a charge of assault. The case was heard in the High Court on an application for permission<\/a> to apply for judicial review. Paragraph 16 of the judgment of Openshaw J reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have already made clear that there is no statutory<\/a> power permitting the appointment of an intermediary for a Defendant, but there may be some procedural<\/a> power in the Criminal Procedure Rules. Criminal Procedure r 1.11 sets out the overriding objective to deal with criminal cases justly, which includes at (c) recognising the rights of a Defendant, particularly under art 6 of the European Convention<\/a> on Human Rights. Furthermore, the court\u2019s case management powers at r 3.10(b)(v) require the court to consider what arrangements are necessary to facilitate the participation of any person in the trial, including the Defendant. In an appropriate case this surely requires the appointment of an intermediary for the Defendant himself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nous avons repr\u00e9sent\u00e9 un d\u00e9fendeur dans ce que nous pensons \u00eatre la premi\u00e8re utilisation pratique d'un interm\u00e9diaire dans un grand proc\u00e8s. Il s'agissait d'un proc\u00e8s pour meurtre devant un juge de la Haute Cour. L'affaire portait \u00e9galement sur un enl\u00e8vement, une s\u00e9questration et une tentative de d\u00e9tournement du cours de la justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This was a six handed case. The fifth Defendant was our client who had limited abilities which we va<\/a> detail below (but included an IQ of 63). The intermediary sat in the Dock alongside the Defendant throughout the evidence relevant to him and went with him to the witness box when he testified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Le proc\u00e8s a \u00e9t\u00e9 compliqu\u00e9 par la nature \u201ctranchante\u201d des d\u00e9fenses et une question a \u00e9t\u00e9 soulev\u00e9e par les co-accus\u00e9s concernant la n\u00e9cessit\u00e9 d'un interm\u00e9diaire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (1) \u00c9VALUATION INITIALE PAR LA D\u00c9FENSE<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dans notre cas, le d\u00e9fendeur, un homme de 36 ans, n'avait pas \u00e9t\u00e9 repr\u00e9sent\u00e9 lors de ses deux premiers entretiens et n'avait pas b\u00e9n\u00e9fici\u00e9 d'un interm\u00e9diaire (le FME (m\u00e9decin de la police) a reconnu dans son t\u00e9moignage qu'il en aurait recommand\u00e9 un s'il avait eu connaissance du QI tr\u00e8s bas du d\u00e9fendeur).<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we read the answers given by the defendant in those police interviews we appreciated that the defendant was likely to struggle to give evidence on his own behalf at trial. He spoke of having a very bad memory during the interview<\/a>. When we met him he presented as vulnerable and slow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nous avons conseill\u00e9 l'obtention d'un rapport psychiatrique et d'un rapport de psychologue scolaire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (2) LES RAPPORTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reports we obtained showed that the Defendant would be able to stand<\/a> trial but that he did not have the capacity<\/a> to properly give evidence in normal court working procedure conditions. He would need regular breaks and he would need to be given information in extremely small packages. His concentration would be limited and breaks would be required to check that he understood the proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dans ce cas, les rapports recommandaient express\u00e9ment l'assistance d'un interm\u00e9diaire. Les rapports ont \u00e9t\u00e9 notifi\u00e9s \u00e0 la Couronne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The application for an intermediary has to be made expeditiously because if granted an appropriate intermediary has to be located and funding obtained. In our case the Prosecution<\/a> also obtained two medical reports. (At trial we called the Prosecution psychologist as a defence witness as she had been able to do more extensive testing of the Defendant). It was agreed that the Defendant had low level of verbal comprehension, low IQ and very poor short term memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n L'accusation ne s'est pas oppos\u00e9e \u00e0 l'utilisation d'un interm\u00e9diaire par l'accus\u00e9. Cependant, nous avons d\u00fb signifier les rapports aux co-accus\u00e9s afin que leurs avocats puissent faire part de leurs pr\u00e9occupations \u00e9ventuelles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n En principe, le juge de premi\u00e8re instance a accept\u00e9 qu'un interm\u00e9diaire soit utilis\u00e9 si et quand le d\u00e9fendeur t\u00e9moigne et pour l'assister plus g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement lors de la d\u00e9position d'autres personnes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (4) \u00c9TAPES APR\u00c8S L'ACCEPTATION DE LA DEMANDE<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Register of Approved Intermediaries is maintained by a Department of the Ministry of Justice. They assist in helping to find an appropriate intermediary. A period of liaison between the intermediary and \u201cclient\u201d is recommended so that they can establish a relationship. This may not always be a long period but ideally should be established by one or two interviews before trial and after the Intermediary has been provided with at least a R\u00e9sum\u00e9<\/a> of the case and any interview Exhibits. The intermediary will normally be required to furnish an assessment of his own, written or oral, depending on the circumstances and time available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Le financement de l'interm\u00e9diaire pour les d\u00e9fendeurs se fait par le biais d'une demande d'autorisation pr\u00e9alable aupr\u00e8s de la Legal service commission. Les tarifs des interm\u00e9diaires doivent \u00eatre soumis. L'autorisation concerne l'\u00e9valuation pr\u00e9alable au proc\u00e8s et la pr\u00e9sence au proc\u00e8s. Jason Connolly, charg\u00e9 de mission au minist\u00e8re de la justice, nous a aid\u00e9s en nous fournissant des informations telles que les codes de pratique et d'\u00e9thique des interm\u00e9diaires enregistr\u00e9s et leurs taux de r\u00e9mun\u00e9ration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (4) QUESTIONS RELATIVES AU PROC\u00c8S<\/p>\n\n\n\n Il y avait quatre questions \u00e0 traiter :<\/p>\n\n\n\n (1) Les \u201cr\u00e8gles de base\u201d devaient \u00eatre \u00e9tablies de mani\u00e8re \u00e0 ce que l'interm\u00e9diaire puisse accomplir sa t\u00e2che en perturbant le moins possible le d\u00e9roulement de l'affaire. Notre interm\u00e9diaire a fait quelques observations \u00e0 la cour (en l'absence du jury) sur la mani\u00e8re dont il concevait son r\u00f4le. Il a conseill\u00e9 aux avocats d'\u00e9viter les doubles n\u00e9gations et les clauses multiples et de s'efforcer de poser des questions courtes. L'interm\u00e9diaire a discut\u00e9 de la proc\u00e9dure \u00e0 adopter pour indiquer au juge que l'accus\u00e9 avait besoin d'une pause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (2) Quelles directives (ou orientations) devraient \u00eatre donn\u00e9es \u00e0 un jury en ce qui concerne la fonction du \u201cfonctionnaire\u201d vu dans le box des accus\u00e9s avec l'accus\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The learned trial Judge made some introductory remarks when the jury were first made aware of the intermediary\u2019s presence. Later on in the trial the trial Judge circulated to counsel a proposed statement to be given to the jury in relation to the intermediary assisting the defendant in the witness box. This set out the psychologist\u2019s findings and recommendation for an intermediary. The jury were also told that not all parties accepted that evidence but the Judge had allowed the intermediary on the basis that he had to ensure a fair trial. The jury were told that the Barristers<\/a> had been advised as to how they should ask questions (eg avoiding double negatives). The jury were told the intermediary would indicate if he considered the defendant did not understand a question. The jury were told that they would have to decide relevant matters themselves, regardless of the Judge\u2019s decision that an intermediary should be allowed and regardless of the presence of the intermediary in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (3) At what stage to deal with the Issue of the need for an Intermediary. Each case will vary depending on for example: number of defendants; whether the defendant is to give evidence or just have assistance in the dock during the prosecution evidence; whether there is agreement<\/a> or not as to the necessity for the intermediary. In our case the need for an intermediary was raised pre-trial but the substantive argument developed during the course of the trial. The Judge, in order to ensure a fair trial for our defendant, allowed the intermediary to be in the dock. That helped counsel as the intermediary could note on what occasions the defendant had difficulty understanding<\/a> and we could assist him later in conference about<\/a> those parts of the evidence. Before the defendant gave evidence (but after defendants 1 to 4 had given evidence) the role of the intermediary was canvassed further with counsel and the Judge ruled on how he would direct the jury. Interestingly our defence experts were interposed during the course of the defendant\u2019s evidence but the learned Judge had made a statement to the jury before he gave his evidence. The intermediary was able to clarify the meaning of words or to reassure the defendant about issues as they arose. A brief reference was made to the jury as to the presence of the intermediary in the dock. In our case the intermediary was not present for the jury selection, opening speech and initial witnesses that did not affect our defendant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (4) What further instruction (if any) was needed in the summing up? The learned trial Judge directed the jury that the defendant had been allowed the assistance of an intermediary in case there was any difficulty in him understanding the questions asked and the case put against him by the prosecution or other defendants. The jury were told that the extent of any impairment of his understanding was a question<\/a> of dispute and that it was a matter for them whether he had real difficulties. The intermediary was allowed in case there were difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The choice of whether or not to call a defendant to give evidence is sometimes a difficult one to make. In some cases it may be that medical evidence for a vulnerable person would be sufficient to avoid any adverse inference from not giving evidence. However, there may be times when counsel\u2019s experience is such that they believe that the calling of a defendant is essential. The use of an intermediary is a course of action which can help that vulnerable defendant to feel more relaxed because he knows there is someone who can intervene if he has difficulty understanding a question. The intermediary assists counsel because in a case of a poor memory the defendant will forget what he needs to tell counsel by the time of the next break in the case. He can indicate to the intermediary immediately who can make a note of the point and inform counsel. Special measures for witnesses have been available for some time (prosecution and defence witnesses) and now there is the availability of at least this special measure for vulnerable defendants. As mentioned above, the statutory framework is not yet implemented. There is much to be done, partly to ensure there will be sufficient registered intermediaries available. Hopefully all those defendants that require an intermediary will be able to have one. It will be important to be aware of the possibility as soon as practicable. Trying to match a registered intermediary that is local to the relevant court will be important in keeping<\/a> down costs. The longer the time it takes<\/a> to obtain the funding for an intermediary the harder it may be to find an appropriate intermediary who is sufficiently local.<\/p>\n\n\n\n GILLIAN FROST (avocat, Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Un article similaire r\u00e9dig\u00e9 par Gillian Frost a \u00e9t\u00e9 publi\u00e9 dans le p\u00e9riodique Criminal Bar Quarterly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Please note: This article was originally published on our previous website and is provided for general information purposes only. While it reflects the legal position at the time of writing, the law may have changed since publication. For up-to-date advice tailored to your circumstances, please contact<\/a> our team<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9300","knowledge-base","type-knowledge-base","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tLa loi<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Article 33BA Interrogation de l'accus\u00e9 par un interm\u00e9diaire<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Malheureusement, cet amendement n'est pas encore entr\u00e9 en vigueur et il est entendu qu'une date de mise en \u0153uvre de l'article 104 n'a pas encore \u00e9t\u00e9 fix\u00e9e, \u00e9tant donn\u00e9 qu'une quantit\u00e9 consid\u00e9rable de travaux pr\u00e9paratoires est encore n\u00e9cessaire.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNotre cas<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Les \u00e9tapes pratiques<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
(3) LA DEMANDE<\/p>\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n