Section 2: Decisions on public action

The Assize Court then returns to the courtroom. The president calls the accused to appear, reads out the answers made to the questions, and pronounces the judgment of conviction, absolution or acquittal. The texts of the law to which application is made are read out at the hearing by the president; mention of this reading is made in the judgment. The reading of the texts of the law and the…

If the accused is exempted from punishment or acquitted, if he is sentenced to a penalty other than a firm custodial sentence, or if he is sentenced to a firm custodial sentence covered by pre-trial detention, he shall be released immediately if he is not being held for any other reason. In other cases, if the accused is sentenced to a term of criminal imprisonment as long as the judgment…

No person who has been legally acquitted may again be convicted or charged in respect of the same acts, even under a different characterisation.

Where in the course of the proceedings charges are brought against the accused in respect of other facts, and where the public prosecutor’s office has made reservations for the purposes of prosecution, the president shall order that the acquitted accused be, by the forces of law and order, taken without delay before the public prosecutor at the seat of the assize court, who must immediately request that an investigation be…

After pronouncing the judgment, the presiding judge will, if appropriate, warn the accused of the option granted to him, depending on the case, to lodge an appeal or appeal in cassation and will inform him of the time limit for lodging an appeal or appeal.