Solomon Islands

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Background

The Solomon Islands are a group of islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. They fell under British Protectorate in the 1890s. Prior to independence (7th July 1978) the statute law that applied in Solomon Islands came from the United Kingdom. Upon independence the Constitution of Solomon Islands became effective and the legality of statute law which applied in Solomon Islands prior to that date was not affected provided it was not inconsistent with the Constitution, (see sections 4 and 5 of The Solomon Islands Independence Order 1978). The Constitution forms the schedule to the Solomon Islands Independence Order 1978 and become the supreme law of the Solomon Islands when that order came into operation. The government qualifies as a parliamentary democracy.

Type of system

Solomon Islands inherited the Common Law tradition, which is derived from English Law. In the common law system, case law (decisions of courts) are an important source of law and expression of legal rules, as decisions become precedent for future interpretation of the law by judges in the same or lower courts. While laws are enacted by the legislature, these are interpreted by the courts.

The system of law in Solomon Islands is an adversarial legal system – the prosecution and defence present their cases to a court for a determination. Courts may indicate issues or points, or raise questions to clarify but it must not do the work of one side (R v Kwatefena [1983] SILR 106; 107).

The duty of the court is to be impartial, hear the evidence on both sides, weigh the evidence and decide the case on its facts (R v Niger Pitisopa (Unrep. Criminal Appeal Case No. 120 of 1999), page 10).

Sources of Defendant's Rights

Pre-trial Phase

Protection from police

  • Identity checks
  • Right to silence
  • Confessions
  • Stops and Frisks, Search and Seizure
  • Arrest
  • Enforcing the rules (exclusionary rule, nullity and other procedures to protect against illegal police procedures)
  • Lineups and other identification procedures

During detention

  • Freedom from prolonged pre-trial detention
  • Freedom from punishment
  • Right to counsel
  • Right to habeas corpus
  • Conditions of confinement
  • Immigrant detention
  • Right to medical and mental health care in prison
  • Restriction of rights
  • Women's rights in prison

Rights of the Accused

At Trial

  • Double jeopardy
  • Legality principle
  • Presumption of innocence
  • Standards of proof and standards for conviction
  • Right to compulsory process
  • Right to confront witnesses
  • Right to counsel
  • Right to a fair trial
  • Right to notice of charges
  • Right to non self-incrimination
  • Right to a speedy trial
  • Right to trial by jury

In Sentencing

  • Capital punishment
  • Ex post facto punishment
  • Freedom from torture, cruel or unsual punishment
  • Right to appeal
  • Right not to be fined excessively

Court Procedure

Pretrial procedure

In Trial

Sentencing

Appeal