Перевести текст criminal justice it is the law courts that are to administer criminal justice in england. perhaps, criminal trial in the law courts of england is not so different from criminal trials in europe. still, it is interesting to note that in england newspapers mustn’t describe the accused as the “thief”, or the “murderer”; he is “the accused”, or “the defendant”, or “the prisoner”. here is a description of a criminal trial in england. first, the counsel for the prosecution tells the court what he is going to prove by evidence in his opening statement. then he calls his witnesses. these persons can say what they know in answers to questions, so the examination of witnesses is very important. then, the counsel for the defense is to defend the prisoner. he calls his witnesses. the judge can interfere if any of the questions are unfair. every counsel may examine a witness of the opposite side. this is the cross-examination. the law of evidence is very strict. every witness must swear an oath (sometimes with his hand on the bible) “to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”. a witness is to give evidence in a special “witness box”. a witness may tell only what he himself considers to be true. there can be no “hearsay” evidence at the trial. when the examination of the witnesses is over, counsels for both sides make further speeches. then the judge is to sum up. after that he asks the jurors to consider their verdict. the members of the jury have to decide only the questions of fact. questions of the law are for the judge. so, the jury retires to a private room to consider a verdict, i.e. to find the prisoner “guilty” or “not guilty”. in english law courts the judge may know the prisoner’s past record of crime, if there is any, only after the verdict. this should help the judge to pass the just sentence – more or less severe.
