St Helena Magistrates' Court is a
Magistrates' Court
A magistrates' court is a lower court where, in several Jurisdiction (area), jurisdictions, all criminal proceedings start. Also some civil matters may be dealt with here, such as family proceedings.
Courts
* Magistrates' court (England and Wales) ...
in
Jamestown, Saint Helena
Jamestown is the capital city of the British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, located on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is also the historic main sett ...
, which is part of the
British Overseas Territory
The British Overseas Territories (BOTs) or alternatively referred to as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) are the fourteen dependent territory, territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom that, ...
of
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory located in the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and consisting of the island of Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and the archipelago of Tri ...
. It is a court of
summary jurisdiction
Summary jurisdiction, in the widest sense of the phrase, in English law includes the power asserted by courts of record to deal ''brevi manu'' (directly) with contempts of court without the intervention of a jury. Probably the power was originally ...
and one of three courts on the island, the others being the
Saint Helena Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Juvenile Court. The Magistrates' Court has jurisdiction to try any offence which carries a sentence of fewer than 14 years imprisonment.
The Court can pass a maximum sentence of 18 months imprisonment (or 3 years for more than one offence) when constituted of a bench of Lay Magistrates or 5 years if the case is heard by the Chief Magistrate.
Criminal jurisdiction
Saint Helena is a
British Overseas Territory
The British Overseas Territories (BOTs) or alternatively referred to as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) are the fourteen dependent territory, territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom that, ...
and follows English law in place prior to 2006, as well as legislation from the local legislature, known as Ordinances. Criminal cases are usually, although not exclusively, investigated by the
Saint Helena Police Service
The Royal Saint Helena Police Service, formerly the Saint Helena Police Service, is the local police force for the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, consisting of the South Atlantic islands of Saint ...
and then prosecuted at the court by the
Crown Prosecutor
Crown prosecutor is the title given in a number of jurisdictions to the state prosecutor, the legal party responsible for presenting the case against an individual in a criminal trial. The title is commonly used in Commonwealth realms.
Examples
* ...
. Defendants are entitled to legal representation from a Lay Advocate or from the island's Public Solicitor's Office
Description
The building sits adjacent to the Castle in Jamestown, the capital of Saint Helena. It comprises one courtroom and also houses the Supreme Court. By virtue of its location in the South Atlantic Ocean, more than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi) from the nearest major landmass, the court is the most remote courthouse on earth.
See also
*
Saint Helena Supreme Court
*
Saint Helena Police Service
The Royal Saint Helena Police Service, formerly the Saint Helena Police Service, is the local police force for the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, consisting of the South Atlantic islands of Saint ...
References
Law of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Buildings and structures in Saint Helena
British Overseas Territories courts
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