A magistrate who refuses an adjournment application must properly inquire into the reasons for the prosecution's unreadiness and the degree of prejudice to the defendant, rather than relying primarily on delay between the alleged offence and the laying of charges. Where the prosecution's unreadiness results from arrangements made with defence counsel and the defendant would suffer no real prejudice from an adjournment, refusal of the adjournment may constitute an error of discretion warranting appellate intervention.
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