ABSTRACT
Criminal procedure rules are rules of procedure intended to improve efficiency in the workings of the criminal justice system. Criminal procedure rules only apply to three jurisdictions: Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and Belize. This chapter attempts to set out the main rules in each of the three jurisdictions, and then examines how the courts have interpreted the rules in actual practice. In summary proceedings, the complainant is required to serve initial details of the prosecution’s case on a person designated as the ‘court officer’ no later than the commencement of the first hearing. Directions given by the court pursuant to rule 10 should include fixing a date by which the prosecution must make all relevant disclosure to the defence. A date should also be fixed for disclosure to the defence of any material in the prosecution’s possession that they do not intend to use at trial which materially weakens the prosecution case or assists the accused.
