| 单词 | Fitness to plead |
| 释义 | 是否適宜申辯 The ability of an accused person to plead to the charge contained in the indictment, information or presentment and to stand trial for that charge. In order to be fit the accused must be able to understand the nature of the charge, plead to the charge and exercise the right to challenge, understand the nature of the proceedings, follow the course of the proceedings; understand the substantial effect of any evidence that may be given in support of the prosecution case and make his or her defence or answer to the charge: R v Beynon [1957] 2 All ER 513; R v Dashwood [1942] 2 All ER 586, [1943] KB 1 (CCA). If there is any doubt as to the accused’s fitness to plead that issue must be determined before the trial of the charge. In practice, if the jury has tried the issue of whether an accused is mute of malice or by visitation of God, and has determined that the accused is mute by the visitation of God, that jury goes on to try the issue of fitness to be tried: R v Pritchard (1836) 7 C & P 303, 173 ER 135; R v Governor of Stafford Prison, ex p Emery [1908-1910] All ER Rep 843, [1909] 2 KB 81. Where the question of unfitness to plead was raised by the Prosecution, the onus of proof was on the Prosecution, and the standard of proof was the ordinary standard in criminal cases, ie that of proof beyond a reasonable doubt: R v Robertson [1968] 3 All ER 557, 52 Cr App Rep 690 (CA). If the matter is raised by the accused, the burden of proof is on him, but the standard of proof is proof on the balance of probabilities: R v Podola [1959] 3 All ER 418, 43 Cr App Rep 220, [1960] 1 QB 325 (CCA). See also Plea. 指被告人就公訴書、告發或控訴書所包含的控訴作出申辯及就該等控訴出庭受審的能力。為求合乎適宜作出申辯的程度，被告須有能力理解有關控訴的性質、對該控訴所作答辯及行使提出質疑的權利、理解法律程序的性質、依循法律程序的過程；理解支持檢控案述要的任何證據的實質效用，以及作出其抗辯或就控罪作出答辯：R v Beynon [1943] 2 All ER 513; R v Dashwood [1943] 1 KB 1（刑事上訴法院）。如對被告是否適宜申辯有所疑問，則須在有關檢控審訊前作出決定。在實際的法律程序中，如陪審團已審理被告是否出於惡意或因災禍而保持緘默，並且已裁定該被告因災禍而保持緘默，則陪審團須繼續審理該被告是否適宜受審的爭論點：R v Pritchard (1836) 7 C & P 303, 173 ER 135; R v Governor of Stafford Prison, ex p Emery [1908-1910] ALL ER Rep 843, [1909]2 KB 81。如控方提出被告不適宜作出申辯的問題，則控方負有舉證責任，而舉證的準則是刑事案件的一般準則，即是無合理疑問的舉證準則：R v Robertson [1968] 3 All ER 557, 52 Cr App Rep 690 （上訴法院）。如該等事項是由被告提出的，則他/她負有舉證責任，但舉證的準則是相對可能性的衡量舉證：R v Podola [1959] 3 All ER 418 , 43 Cr App Rep 220, [1960] 1 QB 325（刑事上訴法院）。另見 Plea。 |
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