XN000022-1984-10-10 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1984

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'MODERN STENOGRAPHY METHODS' FOR COURTS

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED RULES WHICH KEEP THE LAW IN STEP WITH CURRENT PRACTICE CONCERNING THE KEEPING OF NOTES OF EVERY TRIAL ON INDICTMENT.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, EXPLAINED THAT THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE AND CRIMINAL APPEAL RULES REQUIRE THAT A NOTE SHOULD BE KEPT OF SUCH A TRIAL, RECORDING THE COURSE OF THE PROCEEDINGS.

THIS NOTE IS USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREPARING A TRANSCRIPT IN THE EVENT OF AN APPEAL.

→THE REQUIREMENT IN THE LEGISLATION IS A REQUIREMENT TO KEEP A SHORTHAND NOTE, A TERM THAT DOES NOT TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF MODERN DEVELOPMENTS IN MECHANICAL AND ELECTRONIC METHODS OF STENOGRAPHY AND TRANSCRIPTION.

+TO KEEP THE LAW IN STEP WITH CURRENT PRACTICE IN THIS FIELD, THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS MADE THE CRIMINAL APPEAL (AMENDMENT) RULES 1984 INTRODUCING DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS 'SHORTHAND NOTE AND 'SHORTHAND WRITER' WHICH EMBRACE THE MODERN TECHNOLOGY, AND ENABLE THAT TECHNOLOGY TO BE PROPERLY USED IN THE COURTS, MR THOMAS EXPLAINED.

THE COUNCIL ALSO PASSED RULES IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAGISTRATES (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1984 ENACTED LAST MAY.

THIS ORDINANCE INTRODUCED A NEW PROCEDURE TO DEAL WITH OFFENCES ATTRACTING A PENALTY NOT EXCEEDING A FINE OF $10 000 AND IMPRISONMENT OF SIX MONTHS.

UNDER THE NEW PROCEDURE, PRESCRIBED FORMS HAD TO BE USED BY

THE PROSECUTION, MR THOMAS EXPLAINED.

+THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS PRESCRIBED THE NECESSARY FORMS IN THE MAGISTRATES (FORMS) (AMENDMENT) RULES 1984, HE SAID.

THESE FORMS INCLUDED A NOTICE OF PROSECUTION FOR A MINOR OFFENCE, A NOTICE OF NON-PAYMENT OF PENALTY, A NOTICE OF HEARING OF A REVIEW AND A SUMMONS TO A DEFENDANT.

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