Joint trials (Zimbabwe)

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Where persons are implicated in the same offence they may be tried together: s 158 CPEA. Thus, where a number of persons committed a crime, they can be tried together; accomplices can be tried with the principal offender; and accessories (after the fact) can be tried with the principal offender.

However, the holding of joint or mass trials of persons whose alleged offences are unconnected is totally irregular. Joint trials are permissible for persons charged with different offences where the requirements of s 159 CPEA are satisfied. This section allows for the holding of joint trials where different accused, not acting together, commit different crimes at the same place and at about the same time and the prosecutor informs the court that there is admissible evidence which will be common to the different charges. Thus, if a number of persons, not acting in concert, have all stolen maize from the complainant at around the same time, it would be appropriate to allow the joint trial of X to save the complainant being called on numerous occasions to state that the property was stolen from him.


See Zimbabwe Criminal Defense Manual