Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2022)

778.   Summary trial of young person with his or her consent

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    (1)   Where a young person is charged before the Court with an indictable offence, other than murder, the Court, if it thinks it expedient so to do, having regard to the character and antecedents of the person charged, the nature of the offence, and all the circumstances of the case, and if when the young person charged with the offence is informed by the Court of his or her right to be tried by a jury, consents to his or her case be dealt with summarily, the Court may deal summarily with the offence and in its discretion, order the person, if convicted of the offence, either to pay a fine not exceeding $500 or to be imprisoned for any term, not exceeding 6 months.

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    (2)   For the purposes of proceedings under this section, the Court shall cause the complaint to be reduced into writing, if this has not been already done, and read to the young person charged.

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    (3)   Where a complaint is read to a parent or guardian of a child pursuant to subsection (2), the Court shall then address a question to him or her in the following terms:

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    “Do you desire to be tried by a jury or do you consent to the case being dealt with summarily by this Court?”

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    with a statement, if the Court thinks such statement desirable for the information of the young person to whom the question is addressed, of the meaning of the case being dealt with summarily, and of the projected date on which he or she will be tried, if tried by a jury.

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    (Amended by Act 11 of 2008)