Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (27 June) . . Page.. 2510 ..

There were three instances during the past year where Supreme Court trial dates were vacated at the request of the DPP. These situations arose from witnesses becoming unavailable due to illness or indicating that they were reluctant to give evidence. None of the cases involved defendants in custody and proceedings in two of the cases were subsequently discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

(3) In view of the information already provided it is not possible to properly answer this question. However it should be noted that the DPP has a practice of using its best endeavours to have matters involving detainees at the Belconnen Remand Centre listed and/or heard at the earliest available opportunity. It is also the practice of the courts to endeavour to achieve the same objective. The relevant court manages the case timetable and determines whether the defendant is remanded in custody or is released pending the completion of proceedings.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .