In this case, the defence and the prosecution will probably ask for the case to be adjourned for a Pre-trial Review. This is simply a meeting between the two parties so that they can decide who they want to appear as witnesses at a trial. Usually they do not need the young person to attend court for these, but sometimes they do! So a young person should make sure that they know whether or not they are required for the next occasion.

 

At the actual Pre-trial Review, the clerk of the court will set a date for the trial. The defence solicitor will then send a letter to the young person and their parents telling them when they have to come back to court.

 

On the day of the trial the defence witnesses will be kept separate from the prosecution witnesses, and those who have been in court to give their evidence will not be allowed to talk to the people who have not yet done this. This is so that the next witnesses cannot be warned about what is asked in the court, as this would prejudice their evidence.