Magistrates Court Act 1980, Summary Trial, Issues Of Withdrawing, Conflict Of Interest

Anita, a magistrate, arrives at Milltown Magistrates court for her weekly sitting with her sister-in-law, Isha, who wishes to apply to become a magistrate. The other two members of Anitas bench have not turned up and so she tells Isha that she can get some practice by sitting with her on the bench that day. The rst case involves Edgar who was charged with being drunk and disorderly on 1st February 2019. The legal adviser tells Anita that Edgar has also been charged with Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (ABH) and that case has also been listed for trial later on the same day. The ABH charge relates to an incident in which Edgar, having been caught shoplifting, punched a store detective in the face on 23rd March 2018. Anita remembers it well as it happened in one of the chain of shops her husband owns. To save time, Anita decides the bench should hear both trials together. Edgar pleads not guilty to both charges and so they proceed to trial for both oences. The complainant in the ABH charge has not turned up to give evidence as he was denied the day o work. Anita nevertheless insists that the