District Court jury trials likely by June

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 4

District Court jury trials likely by June

The first District Court jury trial in Christchurch will probably be held early next month. Extensive renovations of the No. 2 District Court in Christchurch to accommodate jury trials are scheduled for completion before the end of this month.

Jury trials in District Courts are the second stage in a new system of running courts, which follows recommendations made in the 1978 report of the Royal Commission on the Courts. The first stage of the new system was implemented on April 1 last year, which included a change in status and title for the former Magistrate's and Supreme Courts. From today jury trials for many criminal offences will be heard in the District Court, not the High Court as before. More serious crimes, such as murder, manslaughter, and rape, where the penalty could be more than 10 years imprisonment, will continue to be heard in the High Court.

Several District Court judges have been warranted to preside over jury trials. In Christchurch these will be Judge Pain and Judge Fraser.

The District Court judges can now impose penalties set out by law after a jury trial. These could be up 'to 10 years imprisonment for some crimes. The maximum fine

that can be imposed after a jury trial in a District Court is $lO,OOO. Cases already set down for trial by jury before today will still be heard in the High Court.

Jury trials where there are already facilities will hold jury trials in District Courts from today. However, in some centres, such as Christchurch. facilities are being improved and the trials will not be held until renovations are made. An addition to the No. 2 District Court in Christchurch is an upstairs public gallery. Facilities have been improved to include a waiting area for witnesses, and interview rooms.

. The courts manager. Mr M. Cooper, said that it was believed there used to be an upstairs public gallery in the No. 2 court until about the 193Qs. when it was blocked off. The stairway to this old gallery had been reopened, and would provide public access, to the courtroom.

The High Court holding cells would be used for all prisoners facing trial by jury, said Mr Cooper. Stairs from the courtroom had been built to provide access. He said that the revamped courtroom would probably be used extensively, as one of the aims of the change was to relieve the workload of the High Courts. However, its use would not be confined to District Court jury trials.