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Auditor Training
Laura Irvine, Associate
Lindsay MacNeill, Solicitor
9 December 2013
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Introduction tO
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oO Who are we?
O What will be covered:
= The role of the Procurator Fiscal
Corroboration and Cadder v HMA
The Scottish Court System — a brief overview
Before attending court
On arrival to court
Giving evidence
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Who are we? (@)
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Who is the fiscal? tO
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Procurator Fiscal Depute?
OR
The Crown; or
The PF; or
The Depute; or
The Prosecutor; or
Another term we cannot share in polite company
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Structure of Crown Office
Lord Advocate
Solicitor General
Crown Agent
Principal Procurator Fiscal
Senior Fiscal Depute
Procurator Fiscal Depute
Precognition Officers
Fiscal Officers
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tO
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Decision to prosecute tO
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O Report
O Sufficiency of evidence
O Public interest
O Forum — solemn or summary?
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Corroboration tO
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oO Two sources of evidence
O “something that tends to support or confirm”
0 Carloway proposals?
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The Cadder case tO
brechin tindal oatts solicitors
O ECHR case — Salduz v Turkey
O Police interviews
O Solicitor present
O Fewer admission — right to silence
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Special knowledge admissions tO
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O The general rule is that an accused cannot be
convicted on a confession alone
O There needs to be facts and circumstances that
corroborate the confession
0 Special knowledge — information only the
perpetrator could know
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Best practice in obtaining and
record admission evidence (@)
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O Spontaneous admission
0 Contemporaneous noting
O Two people
O Hearsay
O Probing questions once suspicion has crystalised
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Practical Exercises 1 & 2 bto
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View video and write statement
Acronyms
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What do we do currently? tO
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oO Auditors notes
a What do we do now?
«» Record of Conversation
» Notes (evidence?)
O Altering documents
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Recording evidence tO
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Discussion
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What is the public interest? tO
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oO No definition
Oo But some of the considerations will be:
» Money paid back — less likely to prosecute
« Credible sad story — but is it?
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Purpose of This Afternoon tO
brechin tindal oatts solicitors
O Familiarise you with the Scottish Court System
O Explain how a trial works
O Understand how to give evidence
« Witness statement
» In court
Give you confidence!
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The Scottish Criminal Justice
System - a Brief Overview (@)
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oO Justice of the Peace Court
O Sheriff Court
O High Court of Justiciary
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Solemn Proceedings tO
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O Solemn Procedure
« Petition
» Precognition
First diet/Preliminary Hearing
Trial before a jury
Jury Verdict
Sentence
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Summary Proceedings tO
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O Summary Procedure
=» Complaint
First Diet/Pleading Diet
Intermediate Diet
Trial — more than one day?
Sentence
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Before Attending Court
oO Witness citations
0 Speak to the investigator
Oo Review statement
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tO
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G1 Contact the enquiry pointonI GRO
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On arrival at court tO
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Security
Report to the reception area
Call investigator
Be prepared to wait
Statements
Speaking to other witnesses during the trial
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The Courtroom
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Sheriff
Prosecution Lawyer [Proctence tawyerI Defence Lawyer I
Clerk of Court Court Officer
eee
Public Gallery
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Practical Exercise 3 bto
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Procurator Fiscal Lindsay
MacNeill take evidence in
chief from Crown witness
number 1, Robert Daily
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Giving Evidence
O Speak to court officer
0 Oath or affirmation
O Sitting or standing?
O Clothing
0 Identifying the accused
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Giving evidence tO
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O Hints and tips
Be clear, speak up, and do not rush
Be calm and polite
Stick to the facts and if you don’t know, say so
Tell the truth and do not exaggerate
My Lord/Your Lordship or My Lady/Your Ladyship
Do not use jargon
If you don’t understand the question, just say and it
will be repeated
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Practical exercise 4 bto
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Starting off
your evidence
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Format of questioning
O Examination in chief — prosecutor
= Introduction may be leading
=» Open questions
= Story from start to finish — usually
O Cross examination — defence
» Probably different style of questioning
=» Closed questions
= “[ put it you ...”
0 Re-examination - prosecutor
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tO
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Practical exercise 5 tO
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Cross
examination
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Any Questions?
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