THERE WAS a 31 per cent increase in the number of murder cases before the Central Criminal Court in 2008, and a 7 per cent increase in rape cases over 2007. The court saw an increase of 17.25 per cent in the number of cases received overall.
The figures are compiled by the registrar of the Central Criminal Court. This court hears all cases of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and to assist in committing murder, along with all cases relating to rape and, recently Competition Act cases. For the purpose of the statistics all murder-related cases and all rape-related cases were grouped together.
There were 136 new cases in 2008, of which 51 were murder and 78 were rape and sexual assault. There were seven cases under the Competition Act.
This is the highest number of new cases received since 2002, when there were 137. In 2007 there were 116 new cases, and 95 in 2006. There was a 10-year low in new cases in 2004, when there were only 72.
However, the number of cases completed exceeded those received every year from 2001 until last year, when the number of completed cases was only 107. The report on the figures says this is a worrying trend, as it could lead to delays in cases getting to court. At the moment the average time taken is seven months.
The court completed 34 murder trials in 2008, of which 24 went to trial. There were nine guilty pleas (including guilty to manslaughter) and one nolle prosequi. Of those that went to trial, only three were acquitted. Two were found not guilty by reason of insanity, one guilty of conspiracy to murder and six guilty of manslaughter. The remaining 12 were convicted of murder by the jury. A guilty verdict carries an automatic life sentence.
Murder trials took, on average, 10 days each, with the three longest trials taking 33, 19 and 17 days respectively. When the pleaded cases are included, the average time taken is seven days.
Of the 68 rape cases completed, 29 resulted in a guilty plea to this or a related offence, there were nine nolle prosequis, two bench warrants were issued and one accused was deceased.
Of the 27 cases that went to trial, there were 15 acquittals, eight people were convicted of rape or attempted rape, and four of sexual assault. The most likely sentence for rape was between seven and 10 years, with 10 people receiving sentences in this range. Sentences for rape ranged from life - in one case - to one year, also in just one case. Six people received a sentence of under three years.