Barbados

The Constitution of Barbados

CHAPTER III
PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL

18. Provisions to secure protection of law.

(2) Every person who is charged with a criminal offence —

(a) shall be presumed to be innocent until he is proved or has pleaded guilty ;
(b) shall be informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a language that he understands and in detail, of the nature of the offence charged ;
(c) shall be given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence ;
(d) shall be permitted to defend himself before the court in person or by a legal representative of his own choice ;
(e) shall be afforded facilities to examine in person or by his legal representative the witnesses called by the prosecution before the court and to obtain the attendance and carry out the examination of witnesses to testify on his behalf before the court on the same conditions as those applying to witnesses called by the prosecution ; and
(f) shall be permitted to have without payment the assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand the language used at the trial of the charge,

and, except with his consent, the trial shall not take place in his absence unless he so conducts himself as to render the proceedings in his presence impracticable and the court has ordered the trial to proceed in his absence.

Keywords

Fair trial standards



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