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8 - Trial and Appeal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2020

William A. Schabas
Affiliation:
Middlesex University, London
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Summary

The procedural regime of the International Criminal Court is largely a hybrid of two systems, the adversarial approach of the English common law and the inquisitorial approach of the Napoleonic code and other European legislations of the Romano-Germanic tradition. The trial procedure is not specified in detail in the Statute or in the Rules, and a large degree of latitude to the judges in this respect. The trial is to take place at the seat of the Court, in The Hague, unless otherwise decided. In absentia trial is explicitly prohibited although the accused may be absent for part of the proceedings in certain circumstances. Subject to exceptions, the trial is public. Detailed procedural guarantees for the defence are set out, including a robust provision on the presumption of innocence. When the prosecution has finished presenting its evidence, the Trial Chamber may allow a ‘no case to answer’ motion. Special rules apply if the defendant chooses to plead guilty. Regulation 55 allows the judges to reformulate the charges while the trial is underway. When the trial is completed, the Trial Chamber may issue a decision convicting the accused if it is convinced of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Subsequent stages require the Trial Chamber to fix the sentence and then rule on reparations for victims. There is an unqualified right of appeal from the final verdict as well as appeals with permission of the Trial Chamber of decisions issued in the course of the trial, for example on matters of procedure and evidence.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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  • Trial and Appeal
  • William A. Schabas, Middlesex University, London
  • Book: An Introduction to the International Criminal Court
  • Online publication: 09 June 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108616157.009
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  • Trial and Appeal
  • William A. Schabas, Middlesex University, London
  • Book: An Introduction to the International Criminal Court
  • Online publication: 09 June 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108616157.009
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Trial and Appeal
  • William A. Schabas, Middlesex University, London
  • Book: An Introduction to the International Criminal Court
  • Online publication: 09 June 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108616157.009
Available formats
×