{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-and-investigations-act-1996/schedule-4/paragraph-15",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-and-investigations-act-1996/schedule-4/paragraph-15.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/25",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-and-investigations-act-1996",
  "path": "schedule/4/paragraph/15",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "15",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "In section 39 for subsections (2) and (3) substitute—\n“(2) For the purposes of this Part a hearing is also a pre-trial hearing if—\n(a) it relates to a trial on indictment to be held in pursuance of an indictment presented under the authority of section 2(2)(c), (d), (e) ... of the Grand Jury (Abolition) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969, and\n(b) it takes place after the indictment has been presented and before the start of the trial.\n(2A) But, for the purposes of this Part, a hearing of the kind mentioned in section 45(2)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 is not a pre-trial hearing.\n(3) For the purposes of this section the start of a trial on indictment occurs—\n(a) in the case of a trial to which section 5 of the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 applies (trial by court without a jury), at the opening of the case for the prosecution or, if the court accepts a plea of guilty before that time, when that plea is accepted,\n(b) in any other case, at the time when a jury is sworn to consider the issue of guilt or fitness to be tried or, if the court accepts a plea of guilty before the time when a jury is sworn , when that plea is accepted,\nbut this is subject to Article 7 of the Criminal Justice (Serious Fraud) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.”",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Sch. 4 para. 15: \"section 39 as it applies to Northern Ireland, in subsection (2)(a), the words \"or (f)\"\" repealed (12.4.2010) by virtue of Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), ss. 86, 87, Sch. 13; S.R. 2010/113, art. 2, Sch. para. 21(q)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 4 para. 15 inserted (24.7.2006 for E.W. and otherwise 8.1.2007) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 331, 336, Sch. 36 Pt. 4 para. 72(2); S.I. 2006/1835, art. 2(h) (subject to art. 3); S.I. 2006/3422, art. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 4 para. 15 substituted (N.I.) (1.8.2007 and shall expire 1.8.2009 in accordance with s. 9(1) of the amending Act) by Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (c. 6), ss. 8, 53(4), Sch. 1 para. 1(4); S.I. 2007/2045, art. 2(q) (with art. 3 and with S.I. 2007/2259, art. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 4 para. 15 substituted (24.7.2006 for E.W. and otherwise 8.1.2007) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 331, 336, Sch. 36 Pt. 4 para. 72(3); S.I. 2006/1835, art. 2(h) (subject to art. 3); S.I. 2006/3422, art. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 4 para. 15 substituted (24.7.2006 for E.W. and otherwise 8.1.2007) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 331, 336, Sch. 36 Pt. 4 para. 72(3); S.I. 2006/1835, art. 2(h) (subject to art. 3); S.I. 2006/3422, art. 2(c)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affecting": "nisi/1999/2789",
      "affecting_title": "The Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1999"
    },
    {
      "type": "added",
      "affecting": "nisi/2003/1247",
      "affecting_title": "The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003"
    },
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affecting": "nisi/2003/435",
      "affecting_title": "Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003"
    },
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affecting": "nisi/2003/435",
      "affecting_title": "Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003"
    },
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2003/44",
      "affecting_title": "Criminal Justice Act 2003"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/25/schedule/4/paragraph/15",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:32:07.183739+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}