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1.7. Problems of complex criminal trials


The consequences


The adverse consequences for the criminal justice system of some criminal
trials becoming excessively 'complex' are notorious, and have been documented
in various jurisdictions, notably by Roskill (1986). The most visible
consequence is that the 'failure' of numerous major prosecutions led to a
situation where '(t)he public no longer believes that the legal system ... is
capable of bringing the perpetrators of serious frauds expeditiously and
effectively to book': Roskill (1986) p1. The other most general adverse
consequence is inordinate delay in the completion of such trials, the
associated financial costs involved, and the distorting effects

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