CPR3701/501/3/2018
Tutorial Letter 501/3/2018
Study guide for
Criminal Procedure
CPR3701
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Criminal and Procedural Law
This tutorial letter contains important information
about the module.
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL ORIENTATION ...................................................................... 8
2. PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 8
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 8
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 9
3. HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDE (TUTORIAL LETTER 501/3/2018) ...................................... 9
3.1 Prescribed books .......................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 Structure of the study guide ........................................................................................................ 10
3.3 Structure of the learning units ..................................................................................................... 10
3.4 Use of gender ............................................................................................................................. 10
3.5 A note on case references .......................................................................................................... 11
3.6 Hints for studying this module ..................................................................................................... 11
SECTION A ............................................................................................................................................ 14
A SURVEY OF THE FOUR PHASES OF THE CRIMINAL PROCESS .................................................. 14
I. SURVEY OF THE FOUR PHASES OF THE CRIMINAL PROCESS .......................................... 14
II. PRE-TRIAL PHASE .................................................................................................................... 14
1. THE PLACE OF THE LAW OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM ................ 18
2. CRIME CONTROL AND DUE PROCESS .................................................................................. 19
3. CONSTITUTIONAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ........................................................................... 20
4. ACCUSATORIAL AND INQUISITORIAL PROCEDURES AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF SOUTH
AFRICAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE .......................................................................................... 20
5. SOURCES OF SOUTH AFRICAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE .................................................... 21
6. REMEDIES ................................................................................................................................. 21
7. STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF THE PROSECUTING AUTHORITY ............................. 21
8. PRIVATE PROSECUTIONS ....................................................................................................... 22
9. THE DUTY OF A POLICE OFFICER TO INFORM A PERSON OF THE RIGHT TO LEGAL
REPRESENTATION DURING THE PRE-TRIAL PHASE ........................................................... 22
10. THE DUTY OF A PRESIDING OFFICER TO INFORM A PERSON OF THE RIGHT TO LEGAL
REPRESENTATION DURING CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS ....................................................... 23
11. EXCEPTIONS ............................................................................................................................. 24
11.1 Absence owing to misconduct ..................................................................................................... 24
11.2 Several accused ......................................................................................................................... 24
11.3 Evidence by means of closed-circuit television ........................................................................... 24
11.4 Admission-of-guilt fines ............................................................................................................... 24
11.5 Absence of an accused during an inquiry into the accused's mental capacity ............................. 25
12. OBJECTIVITY AND UNLAWFUL CONDUCT ............................................................................ 25
13. WHICH METHOD SHOULD BE USED TO ENSURE THE ACCUSED'S PRESENCE IN
COURT? ..................................................................................................................................... 27
14. INDICTMENT, SUMMONS AND WRITTEN NOTICE TO APPEAR ............................................ 27
15. ARREST ..................................................................................................................................... 27
16. METHODS OF OBTAINING INFORMATION ............................................................................. 27
2
, CPR3701/501
16.1 Interrogation................................................................................................................................ 27
16.1.1 Interrogating witnesses ............................................................................................................... 28
16.1.2 Interrogating a suspect/an accused ............................................................................................ 28
16.2 The prosecuting authority............................................................................................................ 28
17. INTERCEPTION AND PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS .............................................................. 28
18. DETERMINING BODILY CHARACTERISTICS .......................................................................... 28
19. SEARCH AND SEIZURE WITH A WARRANT ........................................................................... 29
20. SEARCH AND SEIZURE WITHOUT A WARRANT .................................................................... 29
21. THE PURPOSE OF SEARCH WARRANTS AND THE DISCOVERY OF OBJECTS DURING A
SEARCH ..................................................................................................................................... 29
22. DISPOSAL AND FORFEITURE OF SEIZED ARTICLES ........................................................... 29
23. BAIL ........................................................................................................................................... 29
23.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 29
23.2 Constitutionality of or ratio for the existence of bail ..................................................................... 30
23.3 When is bail not in the interests of justice? ................................................................................. 30
23.4 Are there other methods of release besides bail? ....................................................................... 30
23.5 What is the practical meaning of bail? ......................................................................................... 30
23.6 Who grants bail? ......................................................................................................................... 31
23.6.1 The police ................................................................................................................................... 31
23.6.2 The director of public prosecutions ............................................................................................. 31
23.6.3 A court of law .............................................................................................................................. 31
23.7 Bail on account of prison conditions ............................................................................................ 32
24. SUMMARY TRIALS .................................................................................................................... 32
24.1 Pre-trial investigations................................................................................................................. 32
24.2 The nature of pre-trial investigations ........................................................................................... 32
24.3 The purpose of pre-trial investigations ........................................................................................ 33
25. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREPARATORY EXAMINATIONS, SUMMARY TRIALS AND
OTHER PRE-TRIAL INVESTIGATIONS ..................................................................................... 33
25.1 Preparatory examinations and summary trials ............................................................................ 33
25.2 Preparatory examinations and abridged/mini preparatory examinations ..................................... 34
III. TRIAL PHASE ............................................................................................................................ 34
1. PHASE TWO: THE TRIAL .......................................................................................................... 36
1.1 The plea stage ............................................................................................................................ 37
1.2 The state's case .......................................................................................................................... 37
1.3 The case for the defence ............................................................................................................ 38
1.4 Addressing the court ................................................................................................................... 39
1.5 Judgment by the court ................................................................................................................ 39
IV. SENTENCING PHASE ............................................................................................................... 39
1. PHASE THREE: SENTENCING ................................................................................................. 40
1.1 The role of the prosecutor ........................................................................................................... 40
3
, 1.2 The rights of the accused ............................................................................................................ 40
1.3 The duty of the court ................................................................................................................... 40
V. PHASE FOUR: POST-TRIAL REMEDIES .................................................................................. 41
1. PHASE FOUR: POST-TRIAL REMEDIES AFTER CONVICTION AND SENTENCING ............. 41
1.1 Rights of the accused ................................................................................................................. 41
1.1.2 Appeal to executive authority for mercy, for free pardon or to reopen a case .............................. 42
1.1.3 The state's post-trial rights .......................................................................................................... 42
1.1.4 Review powers ........................................................................................................................... 42
1.1.5 Powers of appeal ........................................................................................................................ 42
1.2 Legal remedies after conviction and sentencing.......................................................................... 42
1.2.1 Review ........................................................................................................................................ 42
1.2.2 Appeal ........................................................................................................................................ 43
SECTION B – GUIDE TO THE HANDBOOK ......................................................................................... 44
PHASE ONE: PRE-TRIAL PROCESS ................................................................................................... 45
LEARNING UNIT 1 ................................................................................................................................ 46
LEARNING UNIT 2 ................................................................................................................................ 48
LEARNING UNIT 3 ................................................................................................................................ 51
LEARNING UNIT 4 ................................................................................................................................ 53
LEARNING UNIT 5 ................................................................................................................................ 54
LEARNING UNIT 6 ................................................................................................................................ 55
LEARNING UNIT 7 ................................................................................................................................ 56
LEARNING UNIT 8 ................................................................................................................................ 58
LEARNING UNIT 9 ................................................................................................................................ 60
LEARNING UNIT 10 .............................................................................................................................. 61
LEARNING UNIT 11 .............................................................................................................................. 62
PHASE TWO: TRIAL PROCESS ........................................................................................................... 63
LEARNING UNIT 12 .............................................................................................................................. 64
12.1 HOW IS THE ACCUSED INFORMED OF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM? ....................... 64
12.1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 64
12.1.2 What are the procedural requirements of a valid charge sheet or indictment? ........................... 65
12.1.3 Is the prosecutor bound by the particulars provided? .................................................................. 65
12.2 HOW ARE ERRORS OR DEFECTS IN THE CHARGE SHEET CORRECTED? ........................ 65
12.3 HOW MANY OFFENCES MAY THE STATE ALLEGE AGAINST THE ACCUSED IN A SINGLE
INSTANCE?................................................................................................................................ 66
12.3.1 Does the accused risk being found guilty of all offences as charged? ......................................... 66
12.4 MAY SEVERAL ACCUSED BE CHARGED TOGETHER? ......................................................... 66
12.5 MAY ADDITIONAL ACCUSED PERSONS AND CHARGES BE ADDED AT ANY STAGE OF
THE TRIAL? ............................................................................................................................... 67
LEARNING UNIT 13 .............................................................................................................................. 68
13.1 COMPOSITION OF THE COURT ............................................................................................... 68
13.1.1 Assessors ................................................................................................................................... 68
13.1.2 Non-judicial officers of the court .................................................................................................. 69
4
Tutorial Letter 501/3/2018
Study guide for
Criminal Procedure
CPR3701
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Criminal and Procedural Law
This tutorial letter contains important information
about the module.
BARCODE
, CONTENTS
Page
1. INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL ORIENTATION ...................................................................... 8
2. PURPOSE AND OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................... 8
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 8
2.2 Outcomes ..................................................................................................................................... 9
3. HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDE (TUTORIAL LETTER 501/3/2018) ...................................... 9
3.1 Prescribed books .......................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 Structure of the study guide ........................................................................................................ 10
3.3 Structure of the learning units ..................................................................................................... 10
3.4 Use of gender ............................................................................................................................. 10
3.5 A note on case references .......................................................................................................... 11
3.6 Hints for studying this module ..................................................................................................... 11
SECTION A ............................................................................................................................................ 14
A SURVEY OF THE FOUR PHASES OF THE CRIMINAL PROCESS .................................................. 14
I. SURVEY OF THE FOUR PHASES OF THE CRIMINAL PROCESS .......................................... 14
II. PRE-TRIAL PHASE .................................................................................................................... 14
1. THE PLACE OF THE LAW OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM ................ 18
2. CRIME CONTROL AND DUE PROCESS .................................................................................. 19
3. CONSTITUTIONAL CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ........................................................................... 20
4. ACCUSATORIAL AND INQUISITORIAL PROCEDURES AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF SOUTH
AFRICAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE .......................................................................................... 20
5. SOURCES OF SOUTH AFRICAN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE .................................................... 21
6. REMEDIES ................................................................................................................................. 21
7. STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF THE PROSECUTING AUTHORITY ............................. 21
8. PRIVATE PROSECUTIONS ....................................................................................................... 22
9. THE DUTY OF A POLICE OFFICER TO INFORM A PERSON OF THE RIGHT TO LEGAL
REPRESENTATION DURING THE PRE-TRIAL PHASE ........................................................... 22
10. THE DUTY OF A PRESIDING OFFICER TO INFORM A PERSON OF THE RIGHT TO LEGAL
REPRESENTATION DURING CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS ....................................................... 23
11. EXCEPTIONS ............................................................................................................................. 24
11.1 Absence owing to misconduct ..................................................................................................... 24
11.2 Several accused ......................................................................................................................... 24
11.3 Evidence by means of closed-circuit television ........................................................................... 24
11.4 Admission-of-guilt fines ............................................................................................................... 24
11.5 Absence of an accused during an inquiry into the accused's mental capacity ............................. 25
12. OBJECTIVITY AND UNLAWFUL CONDUCT ............................................................................ 25
13. WHICH METHOD SHOULD BE USED TO ENSURE THE ACCUSED'S PRESENCE IN
COURT? ..................................................................................................................................... 27
14. INDICTMENT, SUMMONS AND WRITTEN NOTICE TO APPEAR ............................................ 27
15. ARREST ..................................................................................................................................... 27
16. METHODS OF OBTAINING INFORMATION ............................................................................. 27
2
, CPR3701/501
16.1 Interrogation................................................................................................................................ 27
16.1.1 Interrogating witnesses ............................................................................................................... 28
16.1.2 Interrogating a suspect/an accused ............................................................................................ 28
16.2 The prosecuting authority............................................................................................................ 28
17. INTERCEPTION AND PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS .............................................................. 28
18. DETERMINING BODILY CHARACTERISTICS .......................................................................... 28
19. SEARCH AND SEIZURE WITH A WARRANT ........................................................................... 29
20. SEARCH AND SEIZURE WITHOUT A WARRANT .................................................................... 29
21. THE PURPOSE OF SEARCH WARRANTS AND THE DISCOVERY OF OBJECTS DURING A
SEARCH ..................................................................................................................................... 29
22. DISPOSAL AND FORFEITURE OF SEIZED ARTICLES ........................................................... 29
23. BAIL ........................................................................................................................................... 29
23.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 29
23.2 Constitutionality of or ratio for the existence of bail ..................................................................... 30
23.3 When is bail not in the interests of justice? ................................................................................. 30
23.4 Are there other methods of release besides bail? ....................................................................... 30
23.5 What is the practical meaning of bail? ......................................................................................... 30
23.6 Who grants bail? ......................................................................................................................... 31
23.6.1 The police ................................................................................................................................... 31
23.6.2 The director of public prosecutions ............................................................................................. 31
23.6.3 A court of law .............................................................................................................................. 31
23.7 Bail on account of prison conditions ............................................................................................ 32
24. SUMMARY TRIALS .................................................................................................................... 32
24.1 Pre-trial investigations................................................................................................................. 32
24.2 The nature of pre-trial investigations ........................................................................................... 32
24.3 The purpose of pre-trial investigations ........................................................................................ 33
25. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREPARATORY EXAMINATIONS, SUMMARY TRIALS AND
OTHER PRE-TRIAL INVESTIGATIONS ..................................................................................... 33
25.1 Preparatory examinations and summary trials ............................................................................ 33
25.2 Preparatory examinations and abridged/mini preparatory examinations ..................................... 34
III. TRIAL PHASE ............................................................................................................................ 34
1. PHASE TWO: THE TRIAL .......................................................................................................... 36
1.1 The plea stage ............................................................................................................................ 37
1.2 The state's case .......................................................................................................................... 37
1.3 The case for the defence ............................................................................................................ 38
1.4 Addressing the court ................................................................................................................... 39
1.5 Judgment by the court ................................................................................................................ 39
IV. SENTENCING PHASE ............................................................................................................... 39
1. PHASE THREE: SENTENCING ................................................................................................. 40
1.1 The role of the prosecutor ........................................................................................................... 40
3
, 1.2 The rights of the accused ............................................................................................................ 40
1.3 The duty of the court ................................................................................................................... 40
V. PHASE FOUR: POST-TRIAL REMEDIES .................................................................................. 41
1. PHASE FOUR: POST-TRIAL REMEDIES AFTER CONVICTION AND SENTENCING ............. 41
1.1 Rights of the accused ................................................................................................................. 41
1.1.2 Appeal to executive authority for mercy, for free pardon or to reopen a case .............................. 42
1.1.3 The state's post-trial rights .......................................................................................................... 42
1.1.4 Review powers ........................................................................................................................... 42
1.1.5 Powers of appeal ........................................................................................................................ 42
1.2 Legal remedies after conviction and sentencing.......................................................................... 42
1.2.1 Review ........................................................................................................................................ 42
1.2.2 Appeal ........................................................................................................................................ 43
SECTION B – GUIDE TO THE HANDBOOK ......................................................................................... 44
PHASE ONE: PRE-TRIAL PROCESS ................................................................................................... 45
LEARNING UNIT 1 ................................................................................................................................ 46
LEARNING UNIT 2 ................................................................................................................................ 48
LEARNING UNIT 3 ................................................................................................................................ 51
LEARNING UNIT 4 ................................................................................................................................ 53
LEARNING UNIT 5 ................................................................................................................................ 54
LEARNING UNIT 6 ................................................................................................................................ 55
LEARNING UNIT 7 ................................................................................................................................ 56
LEARNING UNIT 8 ................................................................................................................................ 58
LEARNING UNIT 9 ................................................................................................................................ 60
LEARNING UNIT 10 .............................................................................................................................. 61
LEARNING UNIT 11 .............................................................................................................................. 62
PHASE TWO: TRIAL PROCESS ........................................................................................................... 63
LEARNING UNIT 12 .............................................................................................................................. 64
12.1 HOW IS THE ACCUSED INFORMED OF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM? ....................... 64
12.1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 64
12.1.2 What are the procedural requirements of a valid charge sheet or indictment? ........................... 65
12.1.3 Is the prosecutor bound by the particulars provided? .................................................................. 65
12.2 HOW ARE ERRORS OR DEFECTS IN THE CHARGE SHEET CORRECTED? ........................ 65
12.3 HOW MANY OFFENCES MAY THE STATE ALLEGE AGAINST THE ACCUSED IN A SINGLE
INSTANCE?................................................................................................................................ 66
12.3.1 Does the accused risk being found guilty of all offences as charged? ......................................... 66
12.4 MAY SEVERAL ACCUSED BE CHARGED TOGETHER? ......................................................... 66
12.5 MAY ADDITIONAL ACCUSED PERSONS AND CHARGES BE ADDED AT ANY STAGE OF
THE TRIAL? ............................................................................................................................... 67
LEARNING UNIT 13 .............................................................................................................................. 68
13.1 COMPOSITION OF THE COURT ............................................................................................... 68
13.1.1 Assessors ................................................................................................................................... 68
13.1.2 Non-judicial officers of the court .................................................................................................. 69
4
