Page:Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968 (UKPGA 1968-20 qp).pdf/15

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25.—(1) The following provisions of this section apply with respect to an appeal under section 24 of this Act.

(2) Where the question whether the accused was unfit to stand his trial was determined by the court-martial at a time later than on arraignment or, in the case of a naval court-martial, later than on the commencement of the trial, the appeal may be allowed (notwithstanding that the finding was properly come to) if the Appeal Court are of opinion that the case is one in which the court-martial should before that time have come to a finding of not guilty.

(3) If the Appeal Court are of the said opinion, they shall substitute a finding of not guilty (but not a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity) and the appellant shall then not be liable to be tried by a court-martial or by any other court for the offence with which he was charged.

(4) Where the appeal is allowed and the Appeal Court do not substitute a finding of not guilty, the appellant may be tried accordingly for the said offence; and if he is for the time being detained under the Mental Health Act 1959, the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960 or the Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961, the Court may make such order as appears to them necessary or expedient pending any such trial for his continued detention under that Act. General procedural provisions

26. An appellant may, if he so desires, instead of presenting his case orally, present it in writing in the prescribed form.

27. An appellant shall not be entitled to be present at the hearing of an appeal to the Appeal Court or at any proceedings preliminary or incidental to such an appeal, except where the Court give him leave to be so; and accordingly any power of the Court to pass a sentence may be exercised notwithstanding the absence of the appellant.

28.—(1) The Appeal Court may—
 * (a) order the production of any document, exhibit or other thing connected with the proceedings the production of which appears to them necessary for the determination of the case;
 * (b) order any witness who would have been a compellable witness at the trial to attend for examination and be examined before the Court, whether or not he was called at the trial; and
 * (c) receive the evidence, if tendered, of any witness.