{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/standing-civilian-courts-order-1997/article-65",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/standing-civilian-courts-order-1997/article-65.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1997/172",
  "legislation_title": "The Standing Civilian Courts Order 1997",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/standing-civilian-courts-order-1997",
  "path": "article/65",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "65",
  "heading": "The case for the defence",
  "text": "(1) After the close of the case for the prosecution, the magistrate shall satisfy himself that the accused understands—\n(a) that he may give evidence in his defence if he wishes but he is not obliged to do so;\n(b) the consequences of choosing to remain silent at trial;\n(c) that if he chooses to give evidence, he will be liable to be cross-examined by the prosecutor and questioned by the court; and\n(d) that he may call witnesses on his behalf.\n(2) The accused may make an opening address outlining the case for the defence, but where two or more accused are represented by one legal adviser, only one such address may be made.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/172/article/65",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T12:27:04.339831+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."
}