Taking evidence at a main hearing without the participation of the accused in the light of Article 378a of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the standards of a fair trial

Abstract

The aim of the article is to study a new regulation: the provision of Article 378a of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP), introduced with the amendment of 19 July 2019 in the context of fair trial standards. The right to defence, which is also an element of the fair trial standard, is vested in everyone from the moment when criminal proceedings are instituted against them until a final judgment is issued. It is important that the rights of defence must be procedural in order to be real and effective. The study refers to and discusses the following standards: constitutional, EU and Strasbourg, and then analyse the content of Article 378a of the CCP. The considerations lead to the conclusion that the possibility of taking evidence during the justified absence of the accused or his lawyer provided for in Article 378a of the CCP is incompatible with the current standards of a fair trial.