Pre-trial rights of the accused in Scots law

The legal system in Scotland grants certain rights to persons accused in criminal proceedings.

The complaint document is marked CITATION and is sent out by the procurator fiscal, the Scottish body responsible for prosecutions.

The purpose of a precognition interview is to establish what a witness will say in response to prosecution and defence questions at trial.

The accused may serve a statement of uncontroversial evidence on the procurator fiscal and the court.

If a solicitor refuses to undertake precognition interviews for the defence of the case the accused has a right to complain to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.