The prosecutor commences the proceedings by giving an account of the offence the suspect is accused of having committed. Once the suspect has admitted or denied committing the offence, the prosecutor gives a factual account of the crime and thereby sets the framework for the proceedings.
The factual account is based on the preliminary investigation and the prosecution, and involves the prosecutor describing in greater detail what the suspect is accused of having done.
This is followed by the giving of evidence (including forensic and written evidence) and any witnesses who are due to appear during the main proceedings. In more complex cases, the prosecutor may use technical aids such as PowerPoint presentations in order to make the case clearer.
After the factual account, the prosecutor conducts the examination. If there is an injured party or victim, he/she gives an account of what has happened and responds to questions. The suspect’s defence counsel and the court are given the opportunity to question the victim.
After this, the suspect is questioned by the prosecutor, defence counsel and the court. Any witnesses are called, sworn in and questioned.
Once all the evidence has been presented and the questioning has been completed, the court reviews the suspect’s personal particulars (biographical data). This gives the court a better basis on which to judge which punishment the suspect should be given if he or she is found guilty.
If the victim wishes to meet the prosecutor before the trial, he or she should contact the public prosecution office. It is normally always possible to arrange a brief meeting before the trial commences.