Author : Genevieve Coonan
Author : Brian Foley
Publisher: Round Hall
Publication Date: 30/11/2008
ISBN: 9781858005058
Jurisdiction: Ireland

The Judge?s Charge in Criminal Trials is the first dedicated Irish text which examines the law and principles of the judge?s charge to the jury in criminal trials. It is an essential and detailed reference point for all those involved in the practice of criminal law and is an indispensable part of the criminal practitioners library.

Over its forty-four chapters it offers detailed guidance on the appropriate directions to be given to the jury in relation to the most commonly recurring issues in criminal practice.

It examines all relevant Irish case-law and contains in-depth comparative commentary, drawing on the law of England, Australia, New Zealand and the United States and critically analyses model directions used in other jurisdictions to explain fundamental criminal law concepts such as the burden of proof, the role of judge and jury, the criminal defences, inchoate liability and more.

Contents: Preliminary instructions; General principles of summing up; Respective roles of judge and jury; Comment; Burden and standard of proof; Degrees of participation; Joint enterprise; Murder; Manslaughter; Inchoate offences; Causation; Intention; Recklessness; Insanity; Automatism; Diminished responsibility; Self-defence; Provocation; Duress/Necessity; Intoxication; Alibi; Alternative defences; Multiple accused; Multiple counts; Delay; Publicity; Circumstantial evidence; Identification evidence; Inadmissible evidence; Expert evidence; Confessions; Unreliable witnesses; Corroboration; Hearsay; Accused?s bad character; Accused?s good character; Previous consistent statements; Previous inconsistent statements; Right to silence; Inferences from silence; Lies; Directions on the verdict; Brown direction; Taking assistance from counsel

Genevieve Coonan is a practising barrister.

Brian Foley is a practising barrister.