Section 3: Production and discussion of evidence

In any event the court may order of its own motion, or at the request of the public prosecutor or one of the parties, that the case be referred to the next session.

In the event that the accused, the civil party, the witnesses or any of them do not sufficiently speak the French language or if it is necessary to translate a document submitted to the proceedings, the president shall appoint ex officio an interpreter of at least twenty-one years of age, and shall make him/her take an oath to assist justice in his/her honour and conscience. The public prosecutor, the accused…

If the accused is deaf, the presiding judge shall ex officio appoint a sign language interpreter or any qualified person who has mastered a language or method of communicating with the deaf to assist him or her during the trial. The latter shall take an oath to assist the justice system in honour and conscience. The president may also decide to use any technical device enabling communication with the deaf…

Once the investigation at the hearing has been completed the civil party or his lawyer is heard. The public prosecutor makes his closing arguments. The accused and his lawyer present their defence. The civil party and the public prosecutor are allowed to reply, but the accused or his lawyer will always have the last word.