Section 257 Duty to seek agreement of evidence.

Scotland

(1)

Subject to subsection (2) below, the prosecutor and the accused (or each of the accused if more than one) shall each identify any facts which are facts—

(a)

which he would, apart from this section, be seeking to prove;

(b)

which he considers unlikely to be disputed by the other party (or by any of the other parties); and

(c)

in proof of which he does not wish to lead oral evidence,

and shall, without prejudice to section 258 of this Act, take all reasonable steps to secure the agreement of the other party (or each of the other parties) to them; and the other party (or each of the other parties) shall take all reasonable steps to reach such agreement.

(2)

Subsection (1) above shall not apply in relation to proceedings as respects which the accused (or any of the accused if more than one) is not legally represented.

(3)

The duty under subsection (1) above applies—

(a)

in relation to proceedings on indictment, from the date of service of the indictment until the swearing of the jury or, where intimation is given under section 76 of this Act, the date of that intimation; and

(b)

in relation to summary proceedings, from the date on which the accused pleads not guilty until the swearing of the first witness or, where the accused tenders a plea of guilty at any time before the first witness is sworn, the date when he does so.

F1(4)

Without prejudice to subsection (3) above, F2in relation to proceedings on indictment, the parties to the proceedings shall, in complying with the duty under subsection (1) above, seek to ensure that the facts to be identified, and the steps to be taken in relation to those facts, F3 are identified and taken—

(a)

in the case of the High Court, before the preliminary hearing;

(b)

in the case of the sheriff court, before the first diet

(F45)

Without prejudice to subsection (3) above, in relation to summary proceedings, the parties to the proceedings shall, in complying with the duty under subsection (1) above, seek to ensure that the facts to be identified, and the steps to be taken in relation to those facts, are identified and taken before any intermediate diet that is to be held.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: S. 257(4) inserted (1.2.2005) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 25, 27(1), Sch. para. 40; S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2, Sch. 1
F2: Words in s. 257(4) substituted (10.12.2007) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 30(a), 84; S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3(1), Sch. (as amended by S.S.I. 2007/527)
F3: Words in s. 257(4) substituted (10.12.2007) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 30(b), 84; S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3(1), Sch. (as amended by S.S.I. 2007/527)
F4: S. 257(5) added (10.12.2007) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 20(1), 84; S.S.I. 2007/479, art. 3(1), Sch. (subject to art. 7) (as amended by S.S.I. 2007/527)