Stages of a criminal trial - Essay Example

Running head: STAGES OF A CRIMINAL TRIAL Stages of a Criminal Trial College: Stages of a Criminal Trial One of the most vital aspects fora criminal case is the trial. A trial is defined to as the process in which two or more parties in a dispute, settle their matters in court before a judge or a jury (Felman, 2002). It is important to realize that most criminal cases never get to the trial stage because of things such as plea to dismiss the cases and motions of bargains. The state, in a criminal case brings the suit against the individual or the individuals.

Several steps are involved in a criminal trial. One of the stages involved in the criminal trial is the issuing out of the opening statements (Felman, 2002). This only comes after the first step of determining whether the trial should happen before a jury or a judge. The attorneys involved in the persecution gives details of the issues that surround the case to the court. He will further explain the point in which the prosecution plans to prove. The defense further gives their opening statements.

In this case, the team will be trying to prove that the defendant is innocent. The opening of statement stage is only valid if other steps of the trial are successful (Felman, 2002). These stages include presentation of evidence to the court. There then follows cross examination of this evidence and the witnesses. The last stage is usually the closing statements, which summarizes the case and waits for the judge or the jury to make a decision. Clearly, the opening statement determines the direction of the case.

It gives the judge and the witnesses some sort of focus so that the case is determined appropriately.One example of a criminal case is that of O.J Simpson murder case, also known as people of California vs. James Simpson case (Bugliosi, 1997). He was accused of murder of both his wife and her friend. He was defended by his lawyers Robert Shapiro and Johnnie Cochran. They issued opening statements to defend their client, stating that the blood samples were comprised. They also proved that the police had not conducted themselves appropriately.

In the end, the jury decided that the James Simpson was not guilty, and was neither responsible of the two deaths. The stages for criminal trial were duly followed in this case for its success.ReferencesBugliosi, V. (1997). Outrage: 5 Reasons Why O.J. Simpson Got Away with Murder. Seattle: Island BooksFelman, S. (2002). The Juridical Unconscious: Trials and Traumas in the Twentieth Century. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press