What will happen at the trial?

A trial is a formal court proceeding where

• witnesses are called to give evidence.
• you and your lawyer must be there, and you may give evidence on your own behalf, although you do not have to.
• you are presumed to be innocent until you are proven guilty, you do not have to give evidence and the judge cannot use your silence against you.
• the Crown Prosecutor will call the witnesses and ask them questions. Then your lawyer will be able to ask questions too.
• your lawyer can then call witnesses on your behalf and the Crown Prosecutor may ask them questions.
• after all the witnesses have given their evidence, the judge will make a decision about whether you are guilty or not guilty.

There are almost never trials by jury in Youth Justice Court.

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WARNING: The contents of these FAQs are intended as general legal information only.
If you have a personal problem, please consult a lawyer.