Criminal Litigation 2016-2017

Criminal Litigation offers a comprehensive and practical guide to the areas of criminal litigation covered on the Legal Practice Course. Making effective use of realistic case studies backed up by online documentation, the text combines theory with practical considerations and encourages students to focus on putting their knowledge into a practical context. Written in an informal and accessible style, it covers all procedural and evidential issues that arise in criminal cases. The more complex areas of criminal litigation are examined using numerous diagrams, flowcharts and examples, while potential changes in the law are highlighted by specially designed 'Looking Ahead' boxes. Chapters end with key points summaries and self-test questions, enabling students to quickly sum up what they have read and test their own knowledge.

The comprehensive Online Resource Centre offers vital support to students throughout their course. Updates are freely accessible to enable students to keep up to date with developments in the field, while links to other useful websites and legislation encourage students to explore the subject area fully. Additional online chapters exploring the practice and dynamics of police station practice, regulatory crime, and sentencing in road traffic accidents are included for students interested in pursuing specialist areas of accreditation.

An interactive timeline distinguishing between the three classifications of offences (summary-only, either-way and indictable-only) helps students to see how the whole criminal litigation process fits together and the issues that they need to bear in mind at particular points. Lecturers are able to access video clips of fictional but realistic court proceedings that follow the case studies included in the text; documentation supporting these case studies is also provided via the site. Additional videos cover the procedure at the police station and sentencing in the Crown Court.

Online Resource Centre

Answers to self-test questions
Bad character case compendium
Case study documentation
Police station checklist
Criminal Litigation Express Train timeline
Updates
Web links
Additional chapters on:
Advising at the Police Station - Practical Steps
Regulatory Crime
Sentencing in Road Traffic Cases
Video case studies

Martin Hannibal, ,Lisa Mountford, Solicitor and senior lecturer

Martin Hannibal is a Barrister (currently non-practising). He has wide experience of teaching and examining criminal litigation and advanced criminal practice on undergraduate and professional programmes and on the LPC.

Lisa Mountford is a Solicitor with extensive experience as a senior lecturer teaching and examining on criminal law programmes and on LPC criminal litigation and evidence courses.

1. Introduction to Criminal Litigation
1. Introduction
2. An introduction to the law of criminal evidence and advocacy
2. Investigation and the Decision to Charge
3. The powers to stop, search and arrest
4. Detention and interrogation
5. The right to silence at the police station
6. Challenging unlawfully and unfairly obtained evidence
7. Obtaining identification evidence
8. The decision to prosecute and the prosecution's duties of disclosure of evidence
3. From Charge to Trial
9. Funding of criminal defence services and first appearance process
10. The law and practice relating to court bail
11. Prosecuting an either-way offence
12. Prosecuting summary offences
13. Crown Court proceedings pre-trial
14. Trial before the Crown Court
4. Proving the Case - The Rules of Criminal Evidence
15. The burden of proof
16. Witness evidence
17. Corroboration, the 'Turnbull guidelines' and opinion evidence
18. Hearsay evidence
19. Character evidence and the accused as a witness at trial
20. Private privilege
5. Post Conviction: Sentencing and Appeals
21. Sentencing procedure and the general principles of sentencing
22. Specific types of sentence and the plea in mitigation
23. Appeals
6. Youth Justice
24. Youth justice - introduction
25. Prosecuting young offenders
26. Sentencing young offenders
Appendix 1
Additional chapters (online only)