Assignment 2
Semester 2
2024
,Question 1
Question: In the regional court at the trial of an accused on a charge of murder: a. It
is peremptory for the magistrate to sit with one or two assessors.
b. It is optional for the magistrate to sit with assessors.
c. The court cannot exercise a discretion to use assessors where the accused
waives the right to have assessors.
d. Assessors may be appointed after the leading of evidence.
e. Failure to consider the use of assessors does not generally constitute a serious
irregularity, even where the accused had agreed to dispense with assessors.
Answer: a. It is peremptory for the magistrate to sit with one or two assessors.
Question 2
Question: Choose the CORRECT answer from the following statements: a. The
prosecutor or the accused may compel the attendance of witnesses by way of a
summons.
b. A recalcitrant witness in a criminal trial is someone who proffers answers
detrimental to the party who called them as a witness.
c. A postponement refers to the period when the hearing is already underway,
whereas an adjournment denotes the period before the trial starts.
d. A recalcitrant witness in a criminal trial is someone who refuses to take the oath or
refuses to answer questions.
e. A witness’s sympathy with an accused’s political ideals constitutes a just excuse
for the refusal to answer questions.
Answer: d. A recalcitrant witness in a criminal trial is someone who refuses to take
the oath or refuses to answer questions.
, Question 3
Question: In the context of a criminal trial, previous convictions: a. Only come into
play before conviction.
b. Only come into play after sentence.
c. Do not in any way affect the sentence to be imposed.
d. Must be proved by the court.
e. Must be proved by the prosecution.
Answer: e. Must be proved by the prosecution.
Question 4
Question: Choose the INCORRECT answer from the following statements: a. A
review is concerned with the procedural accuracy of the proceedings.
b. Appeal is concerned with the substantive accuracy of the proceedings.
c. A review is not concerned with aspects such as the incorrectness of the judgment.
d. Review and appeal may be lodged simultaneously in respect of the same merits
and/or proceedings.
e. Appeal is lodged by way of an application for notice of motion, whereas review is
sought by way of leave to review.
Answer: e. Appeal is lodged by way of an application for notice of motion, whereas
review is sought by way of leave to review.