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<p>The information requested about Crown Court waiting times for trials where the
defendants entered a not guilty plea for a murder charge in 2010 and 2018 can be found
in the attached excel document.</p><p> </p><p>Last year saw a 12% reduction in Crown
Court trial cases and the allocation of sitting days reflects this. Waiting times
for trials in the Crown Court for 2018 have been the lowest since 2014, despite the
challenge of increasingly complex cases.</p><p> </p><p>Performance, demand and waiting
times in the courts are constantly reviewed to balance sitting days with waiting times,
disposals and receipts. Resources are adjusted when appropriate. Demand has been falling
in recent years and sitting days have been reduced accordingly. The abolition of committal
hearings in 2013 transferred the file preparation period from the magistrates’ court
to the Crown Court and so comparisons between pre-2013 data and post-2013 data do
not compare like with like.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to review demand and performance
in the Crown Courts and will ensure they have the resources they require.</p>
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