jurisdiction of the Magistrates court

• • All cases first appear at magistrates court. The preliminary hearing, the magistrates may consider bail applications. They have this power under the Bail Act 1976.
  • The D may also enter enter a plea for summary cases and triable either way cases.
• • Magistrates hear all summary offences in the Magistrates court, these are the least serious offences such as assault and some TEW offences, these are middle range offences such as ABH.
  • Magistrates will send serious offences o the crown court for a trial.
• At trial, in magistrates court, the magistrates will listen to all the evidence. The legal adviser help magistrates with any law. Then alone decide the verdict. The magistrates will then proceed to sentence the D if found guilty. When sentencing magistrates must act within their sentencing powers as provided by the sentencing act 2020.