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Court Appearances Before Trial

Anyone facing criminal charges should research the rules dictating how trials are conducted

Understanding Your Rights and Timelines

If you have been charged with a crime in Canada, you should consult with a criminal defence lawyer in your area

Court Appearances Before Trial - Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Legal Terms

Evidence

Evidence, which can include testimony, documents, expert statements or photographs, can be introduced by either side to support that a position is either true or not true. Any evidence introduced must be relevant to the case at hand.

Indictable offence

Indictable offences are the most serious offences under the Criminal Code and they come with more serious punishments, up to a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Plea bargaining

Plea bargaining is the negotiation between the prosecution and the defence whereby the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser offence.

Reasonable doubt

The Supreme Court of Canada has said that reasonable doubt “falls much closer to absolute certainty than to proof on a balance of probabilities” and “that something less than absolute certainty is required, and that something more than probable guilt is required."

Summary conviction

Summary convictions are used for lesser offences with penalties, fines and short jail time. They reflect the majority of offences as defined in the Code.

Court Appearances Before Trial - Referenced Links