Assignment 5 SJD

Assignment 5

Section.1

Criminal activities from newspaper reports (print or online)
1. Armed robbers open fire on Johanesburg bus, news24 , April 2, 2015

The occurrence of crime in the early hours of the morning of 2 April 2015, a total disregard of the law by criminals. Unknown assailants stormed into a bus at a bus stop and fired shots to scare passengers before robbing them. The case is related to criminal justice system, crime has been committed.

Persons involved:
Bus driver and passenger who got shot, both are victims.
The suspects that fired shots, have not yet been arrested
Police who are investigating the shooting incident.

2. Two men each get life sentence for two murder, March 27, 2015 at 12:07 by Sapa

Two men were each sentenced to life in prison for two murders, including that of a police officer, by the High Court sitting in the Mthunzini Magistrate 's Court.
The story depicts the prestigious work of the Police and professional conduct of the Police. The case also relates to criminal justice system. A just verdict that had been issued by the presiding officer in the criminal courts.

Person involved
Two accused men whom were sentenced to life imprisonment
Police who investigated the case from the beginning to the end
Public prosecutor whom prosecuted the case in court
Presiding officer, a magistrate or Judge whom heard the case and issued a verdict.

3. Woman in Court for stabbing boyfriend to death, Reported by The Citizen on 25 March 2015.

A 29-year-old woman accused of stabbing and killing her boyfriend is expected to appear again in the Pinetown Magistrates ' Court in Durban. It is clearly related to our criminal justice system as murder is a clear case of murder which is a crime against the public and prosecuted by State.

Persons involved:
Accused-29 year old woman, person to be prosecuted,
Victim of crime the stabbed boyfriend.
Presiding officer- Magistrate, a person who will hear both sides of the story and issue a just verdict.
Police- who will investigate the murder case and arrest the accused.
Public Prosecutor to prosecute the murder case on behalf of the State.

4. Guard stabbed to death outside Durban bakery, news24, April 7, 2015

A security guard was stabbed several times on chest and back at boutique bakery in the CBD of Durban. A suspect is well known so the arrest is imminent, a case of murder is under investigation. Police are investigating a murder case. Victim has died due to injuries sustained. This case also relates to criminal justice system. Eyewitnesses will be summoned to testify in court as the Public Prosecutor leads the State case in court. Police would secure the attendance of the suspect in court as well as the witnesses.

5. Murder accused state that the devil made him do it, news24, April 2, 2015

A 19 year old boy identified the body of a victim after confessing to the police that the devil made him to kill the victim. The suspect handed himself to the police, this is a criminal case of murder but the defense of the suspect is that of occult or that outside forces made him commit the crime. In our criminal justice system certain things like occult are not yet considered that much. The defense raised by the suspect would not stand in court

Persons involved
Police whom are investigating the murder case
Suspect who has handed himself in court
Public prosecutor whom will prosecute the case on behalf of the State.

Section 2

Involvement of the Functionaries representing criminal justice system.

Police:
The Police receive initial reports of the criminal offence and initiate preliminary investigation which includes securing crime scene and collecting physical evidence and obtain statements from witnesses, search for suspected offenders and secure their attendance in the criminal courts before the presiding officer.

Public Prosecutor:
The Prosecutor receives a case docket and advice the investigating officer about further investigation and evidence required for the successful prosecution and then draws up a formal charge sheet, initiate the State case by introducing the case in court and then calls the witnesses to testify.
Presiding Officers:
The presiding officer usually a Magistrate at district court or a Judge in the High court presides over the matter brought before court. Issues a verdict and sentence to the accused person
Rehabilitation Officers:
Usually the Corrections officers or NICRO officers, undertakes the process of rehabilitating the convicted and sentenced offenders.

Section 3

12 criminal justice words and their meanings.

1. Conviction : a verdict reached after a due process of trial
2. Sentencing : a process of issuing a punishment or rehabilitation program to an accused person.
3. Suspect : a person suspected of committing an offence
4. Accused : a person charged with a criminal offence
5. Prosecutor : State representative
6. Presiding officer : a Magistrate or a Judge
7. Investigation : a process of uncovering the facts in a particular offence occurred

8. Legal representative : a lawyer or attorney on behalf of the accused person

9. Legislation : statutory law, which has been promulgated by a legislature like the KwaZulu Natal legislature sitting in Pietermaritzburg. www.parliament.gov.za

10. Mitigation : to make crime appear less serious by the defense team and thus making sentence more lenient.

11. Aggravating : to make an offence more serious and to show the offence how serious it has affected the victim

12. Criminal diversion: first offender programs that gives offenders an alternate way to avoid criminal convictions like NICRO.

References:

www.justice.gov.za www.news24.com , www.iol.co.za www.saps.org.za , www.npa.gov.za, www.parliament.gov.za

References: www.justice.gov.za www.news24.com , www.iol.co.za www.saps.org.za , www.npa.gov.za, www.parliament.gov.za