IX.
The Right to a Fair Trial ............................................................................................... 96
A.
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 98
B.
The importance of the right to a fair trial .................................................................. 98
C.
Is the right to a fair trial absolute?............................................................................. 99
D.
The presumption of innocence ................................................................................ 100
Obligations on the media ............................................................................................... 101
The freedom from self-incrimination and the right to silence ....................................... 102
E.
Access to court ........................................................................................................ 102
F. Access to a Lawyer ..................................................................................................... 105
The right of access to legal assistance ........................................................................... 105
Legal aid......................................................................................................................... 106
G.
What is a criminal charge/offence? ......................................................................... 107
H.
Civil rights and obligations ..................................................................................... 108
I. The right to be informed promptly in a language which he understand and in detail, of
the nature and cause of the accusation against him ........................................................... 110
J.
The right to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence ...... 111
K.
An independent and impartial tribunal? .................................................................. 112
What is a ‘tribunal’?....................................................................................................... 112
Established by law ......................................................................................................... 113
Competent ...................................................................................................................... 113
Independence ................................................................................................................. 113
Impartiality..................................................................................................................... 115
Anonymous judges, religious courts, Courts Martial, Military Tribunals, military judges
........................................................................................................................................ 116
L.
Equality of arms ...................................................................................................... 119
The right to call witnesses and cross examination ......................................................... 119
M.
Victim and witness protection ................................................................................. 120
N.
Trial within a reasonable time ................................................................................. 121
O.
Right to a public hearing ......................................................................................... 122
P. The right to have the free assistance of an interpreter if he/she cannot understand or
speak the language used in court ....................................................................................... 124
Q.
Double jeopardy ...................................................................................................... 124
R.
A public, reasoned and timely judgment ................................................................. 125
S. A right to appeal.......................................................................................................... 125
T.
Other procedural safeguards.................................................................................... 126
Unlawfully obtained evidence ....................................................................................... 126
U.
Sentencing ............................................................................................................... 127
V.
Compensation .......................................................................................................... 127
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