Sierra Leone

The Criminal Procedure Act

PART II – SUMMARY TRIAL

92. Trials in the Magistrates' Courts shall be conducted summarily in the manner and subject to the conditions laid offences.

93. The room or place in which the Court sits to hear and determine the charge shall be an open and public Court, to which the public generally shall have access as far as it can conveniently contain them.

94. When the accused or defendant comes before the Court on summons or warrant, or otherwise, either originally or on adjournment, then if the prosecutor, having had notice of the time and place appointed for the hearing or adjourned hearing of the charge, does not appear, the Court shall dismiss the charge, unless for some reason it thinks fit to adjourn or further adjourn the hearing.

Keywords

Fair trial standards
Trials in absentia
Rights during trial - present at trial



EDIT.