Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Defendant definition

What does Defendant mean? In legal practice, “defendant” describes the party against whom court proceedings are brought, whether a civil claim or a criminal charge. In England and Wales the term is defined in the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR 2.3) as a person against whom a claim is made; it is also used in the Criminal Procedure Rules. Northern Ireland follows similar usage. In Scotland, the civil counterpart is the “defender” (claimant is the pursuer), and in criminal cases the person is referred to as the “accused” (also the “panel” in solemn proceedings). In Ireland, civil procedure uses “defendant” under the Rules of...

Crown Court Service of Prosecution Evidence and Disclosure (England and Wales): Deadlines, Extensions, DMDs, Indictment, Case Management, Unused and Additional Material, Reluctant Witnesses

Published by a LexisNexis Corporate Crime expert

Practice notes

Disclosure obligations

Where a Defendant appears before a magistrates’ court charged with an indictable‑only offence, or an either way offence, and is sent to the Crown Court for trial under s 51(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (CDA 1998), the framework for serving the prosecution’s evidence is set by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (Service of Prosecution Evidence) Regulations 2005 (CDA (SPE) Regs), SI 2005/902, together with the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 (CrimPR 2025), SI 2025/909. For provision of Initial Details of the Prosecution Case (IDPC) disclosure in the magistrates’ court, refer to Practice Note: Disclosure in the magistrates’ court. Be aware that some criminal proceedings are administered via the Crown Court Digital Case System (DCS), Crown Court’s electronic case management platform. In such cases, service and access to prosecution material may occur through the DCS. For further guidance, see Practice Note: How to use Common Platform and the Digital Case System...

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Hannah Thomas

2 Hare Court

Hannah specialises in criminal law, professional discipline and inquests & inquiries. She is ranked in the latter field as a ‘Rising Star’ junior in the Legal 500.In her criminal work Hannah both prosecutes and defends and has established a busy practice both led and as a junior alone. Her work covers all manner of serious criminal offences. Recent instructions include murder, GBH, rape, fraud, conspiracy to supply drugs and firearm offences. She also has experience in the appellate courts, having been instructed both in case stated appeals and judicial review in the High Court, and she has appeared before the Court of Appeal in appeals against both conviction and sentence.When defending Hannah is often chosen to represent clients with vulnerabilities due to her excellent client care skills. She has a calm and friendly approach and provides robust advice to clients. Hannah’s...

Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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