Crown Court
Having your case progress in the Crown Court can be daunting. The outcome can change the course of your life so it’s important to know you’re in safe hands.
Guiding you through the Crown Court process
The Crown Court in England and Wales can hear Criminal cases. Every case starts in the Magistrates Court but the most serious matters are taken to the Crown Court by the Magistrates.
Going to Crown Court is, for most, a very scary experience so it’s important to have people such as our solicitors there as a helping hand and your defence team.
Our solicitors acknowledge your legal right to have the highest standard of representation in court. We can advise you on issues that may arise and we make you our priority, guiding you through legal proceedings and building a strong defence for you in the process.
Important things to consider:
- It’s wise to seek professional representation for court as early as possible.
- The crown court deals with the most serious and complex cases. It has greater powers of sentence than the Magistrates Court.
- You can appeal against a decision made in the Crown Court.
Support and guidance with every stage
The Crown Court deals with criminal cases referred from the Magistrates Court. The Magistrates Court may hear your case and decide their sentencing powers are insufficient for the crime they believe you’ve committed. This is known as ‘either way offences’ which the Magistrates Court could have dealt with but is better dealt with in the Crown Court. The types of crime this includes is fraud, theft, the supply of drugs and certain categories of assault.
The Crown Court regularly deals with Indictable Offences (the most serious offences) which are only heard in the Crown Court. For example, serious assaults, robbery, murder, manslaughter, rape, wounding with intent and conspiracies.
In Crown Court, you may first have a preliminary hearing and a Plea and Case Management Hearing. Conviction and sentencing without a trial occur when you plead guilty. This probably results in you being given a less severe sentence than if you plead not guilty and endure a trial.
Trials take place before a judge sitting with a jury of 12 people who are random members of the public. They listen to prosecution evidence, witness statements and your defence. Also, the judge will sum up the evidence for the jury and will advise the jury on the law and procedure to help them make the decision of whether you’re guilty. However, it is ultimately the judge who decides your sentence.
With their vast experience, our solicitors can help you through the process of going to Crown Court. We can provide you with a criminal defence team after you’ve had accusations of committing an offence. Whilst providing you with essential information such as where the hearing for your case will take place we will create the best defence for you. We can also help you to prepare for what to expect and prepare all evidence and an appeal if necessary. Furthermore, we’re essentially here to reduce your stress and concerns by representing you.