Crimes Amendment Act 2005 (ACT)

Crimes Amendment Act 2005

A2005-7

Contents

Page

Part 1Preliminary

1. Name of Act  2

2. Commencement  2

Part 2Community Advocate Act 1991

1. Legislation amended—pt 2  3

2. Definitions for Act

   
   

   Section 3, definition of forensic patient, paragraph (b)  3

Part 3Crimes Act 1900

1. Legislation amended—pt 3  4

2. Definitions for pt 13

   
   

   Section 300, definition of special hearing  4

3. Sections 310 to 315  4

4. Section 316 heading  10

5. Section 316 (3)  10

6. Section 316 (7)  10

7. Action if accused becomes fit to plead after special hearing

   
   

   Section 319A (1), note  10

8. Fitness to plead—Magistrates Court

   
   

   Section 335 (2) (a)  11

9. Section 335 (4) (a)  11

10. Action if accused becomes fit to plead after hearing

    
    

    Section 335A (1), note  11

Part 4Magistrates Court Act 1930

1. Legislation amended—pt 4  12

2. Appeals to which div 3.10.2 applies

   
   

   New section 208 (1) (aa)  12

3. Section 208 (1)  12

4. Institution of appeal

   
   

   Section 209 (2)  12

5. Stay of execution pending appeal in certain cases

   
   

   Section 216 (1)  13

Part 5Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act 1994

1. Legislation amended—pt 5  14

2. Functions

   
   

   Section 11 (e)  14

3. Section 11  14

4. Sections 68, 69 and 69A  14

5. Section 71  16

6. Constitution for exercise of powers

   
   

   Section 83 (2) (d) and (e)  17

7. Section 83 (2)  17

8. New part 14  17

Crimes Amendment Act 2005

A2005-7

An Act to amend the Crimes Act 1900, and for other purposes

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:

Part 1Preliminary

1. Name of Act

   This Act is the Crimes Amendment Act 2005.

2. Commencement

   This Act commences on the day after its notification day.

   NoteThe naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).

Part 2Community Advocate Act 1991

1. Legislation amended—pt 2

   This part amends the Community Advocate Act 1991.

2. Definitions for Act
   Section 3, definition of forensic patient, paragraph (b)

   substitute

   (b)found by a court or the mental health tribunal to be unfit to plead; or

Part 3Crimes Act 1900

1. Legislation amended—pt 3

   This part amends the Crimes Act 1900.

2. Definitions for pt 13
   Section 300, definition of special hearing

   omit

   section 315

   substitute

   section 316

3. Sections 310 to 315

   substitute

4. Application of div 13.2

   This division applies to a criminal proceeding in the Supreme Court or the Magistrates Court.

5. When a person is unfit to plead

   (1)A person is unfit to plead to a charge if the person’s mental processes are disordered or impaired to the extent that the person cannot—

   (a)understand the nature of the charge; or

   (b)enter a plea to the charge and exercise the right to challenge jurors or the jury; or

   (c)understand that the proceeding is an inquiry about whether the person committed the offence; or

   (d)follow the course of the proceeding; or

   (e)understand the substantial effect of any evidence that may be given in support of the prosecution; or

   (f)give instructions to the person’s lawyer.

   (2)A person is not unfit to plead only because the person…