Time limit on prosecutions
3A Time limit on prosecutions
(1) If the charge of a sexual offence is to be dealt with summarily, the trial must be commenced within 3 months of the matter being first mentioned in court.
(2) If a person is charged with an indictable offence that is a sexual offence, a preliminary investigation under Part V, Division 1 of the Local Court (Criminal Procedure) Act 1928 must be commenced within 3 months of the matter being first mentioned in court.
(3) If the charge of a sexual offence is to be dealt with on indictment, the trial must be commenced within 3 months of the person being committed for trial.
(4) The court in which the person is to be tried, or which is to conduct a preliminary examination (as the case may be) may, if it thinks fit, at any time and despite that the period fixed by subsection (1), (2) or (3) (as the case may be) has expired, grant an extension, not exceeding 3 months, of the period.
More than one extension may be granted under subsection (4).
This Act’s bill:Second reading speech
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