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answer text |
<p>The CPS's function is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence,
but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate
to present charges for the criminal court to consider.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS assessment
of any case is not in any sense a finding of, or implication of, any guilt or criminal
conduct. It is not a finding of fact, as this can only be made by a court, but rather
an assessment of whether there is a realistic prospect of conviction and, if so, whether
the public interest lies in prosecuting.</p><p> </p><p>It is open to the defence in
any crown court case to argue, after the prosecution has closed its case, that the
evidence is too weak for the decision to be left to the jury. In this particular case
the judge clearly considered that the decision was properly a matter for the jury.</p>
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