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Article 453 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

The court clerk keeps notes of the proceedings and mainly, under the direction of the president, of the statements of the witnesses as well as the answers of the accused. The notes of the hearing are signed by the court clerk. They are endorsed by the president, no later than three days after each hearing.

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Article 454 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

After each statement, the president and, under the conditions provided for in Article 442-1, the public prosecutor and the parties shall ask the witness any questions they consider necessary. The witness may withdraw after giving evidence, unless the president decides otherwise. The public prosecutor, as well as the civil party and the accused, may request, and the president may always order, that a witness withdraw momentarily from the courtroom after…

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Article 456 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

The court, either of its own motion or at the request of the public prosecutor, the civil party or the accused, may order any transport useful for the determination of the truth. The parties and their lawyers shall be called to attend. A record of these operations shall be drawn up.

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Article 457 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

If, after the hearing, the evidence of a witness appears to be false, the president, either of his own motion or at the request of the public prosecutor or one of the parties, shall cause the precise statements of the witness to be recorded in the notes for the hearing. He may specially enjoin this witness to remain at the disposal of the court, which will hear him again, if…

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Article 458 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

The public prosecutor shall, in the name of the law, make such submissions, both written and oral, as he or she considers appropriate for the good of justice. In the event that written submissions are made, mention of them shall be made in the notes kept by the court clerk and the court shall be required to respond to them.

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Article 459 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

The accused, the other parties and their lawyers may file submissions. These submissions are endorsed by the president and the court clerk; the latter mentions this filing in the hearing notes. The court which is required to respond to pleadings thus duly filed must join to the merits the incidents and objections before it, and rule thereon in one and the same judgment, ruling first on the objection and then…

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Article 460 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

On completion of the investigation at the hearing, the civil party is heard in his application, the public prosecutor takes his closing arguments, the accused and, if applicable, the person civilly liable, present their defence. The civil party and the public prosecutor may reply. The accused or his lawyer will always have the last word.

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Article 460-1 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

Where the person claiming to have been injured has brought a civil action in the manner provided for in Article 420-1, the President shall read out the claim as soon as the hearing has been completed. The Public Prosecutor makes his submissions; the accused and, if applicable, the person civilly liable present their defence. If the court deems it necessary, it may order the civil party to appear. In this…

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Article 461 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure

If the debates cannot be completed during the same hearing, the court shall, by judgment, fix the day on which they shall be continued. The parties and witnesses not heard, or those who have been invited to remain at the disposal of the court, shall be required to appear, without further summons, at the remand hearing.

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