Chapter 2: The Law

HOMICIDE 

Homicide includes murder and manslaughter. A killing is classified as murder if the accused perso  is 'of sound mind' and intended to kill or cause serious harm to his or her victim. Manslaughter is a killing where there was no intention of cause death or where the accused person has a partial defence such as loss of control.

CROWN COURT 

The court used by the state or crown for the trial of serious criminal offences.

DISCRIMINATION 

Unfavourable treatment often based on prejudice. For example, it would be reasonable to choose the job applicant with the best driving skills for a job in a transport company. Choosing a man beacuse of a misplaced belief that men make the best bus drivers, would be discrimination. 

ADVISORY, CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION SERVICE (ACAS) 

ACAS provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and emplyees on workplace relations and employment law. When things go wrong, ACAS offers concililation to resolve workplace problems. They also provide training for emplyers to encourage better relationships in the workplace. ACAS is an independent organisation supported with funding from the government.

CITIZENS ADVICE

An independent charity that offers free, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on rights, resonsibilities and the law, citizens advice is funded by donations and grants from public funds.

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL

Employment tribunals can hear cases brought by emplyees who think that their employer, a potential employer or a trade union has treated them unlawfully. Examples of unlawful treatment unclude unfair dismissal and unreasonable discrimination. A three-perso independent panel will hear thr claimants case as well as that of the person or business againts whom the claim is being made.

SUPREME COURT 

The supreme court is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases, and for criminal cases from England, Wales an Nothern Ireland but not Scotland. It hears cases of the greatest public or consitutional importance affecting thr eholr population.

STATE

An organised political community under one government.

DEFENDENT

The person accused of an offence.

PROSECUTION

Prosecution lawyers work on behlaf of the crown and un cooperation with the police, to prove that the defendant is guilty.They produce evidence and call witnesses to support their case.

JURY

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