// about this tragedy was the length of the trial which extended to and past Christmas.//
erm the alternative is for the Crown to present their case and then say to the defence - right you crowd of wonkers and tassers, you have two days, OK one and a half, there's christmas coming and the jury have to do their shopping so chop chop - yakkety yak, get pleading damn you !
GBH and nurder were prosecuted within 60 d
but that has long gone ( 1970s)
[a works colleague was remanded in custody for GBH and on the first day of the trial, the judge asked the Crown, is he going to plead self defence ? (he took a knife off someone and stabbed him) and the crown said - yes my lord I understand from my esteemed and learned friend .....
and the judge said - case dismissed, the defence has to prevail]
I mean you really would ahve expected them to work something like that outbefore they cam to court ....