Viktor Bérces: Evidence in Criminal Proceedings
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Chapter XI. Evidence in court proceedings
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11.9. The importance of trial speeches in evidence

11.9. The importance of trial speeches in evidence

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

The closing argumentis the oral1 conclusion of the prosecution or defence in relation to the factual assessment and legal qualification of the act(s) charged. The basic requirements for closing arguments are (1) logical structure, (2) legal relevance, and (3) appropriate style of delivery.

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

  • According to Szitás, closing speeches “can be seen as a kind of bridge between the evidence taken and the verdict to be delivered, a draft of the verdict envisaged by the prosecutor and the defence in the case.” 2
  • According to Tremmel, “the closing argument is a rather complex procedural act which, as a bridge between the taking of evidence and the decision, contains the summary, reasoned observations and motions of the accuser or the defence on the factual and legal issues of the criminal case in the form of public and oral presentations.”3
 

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

Closing arguments can be seen as the culmination of the work of the prosecution’s representative or the defence lawyer, which the court should also refer to in some form in the justificationfor the decision. For this reason, I find it particularly problematic that the (verbatim) recording of the closing speeches is not mandatory under the Criminal Code, nor does the law even require that these statements be placed in written form in the official court file.4 This also makes the work of the appeal courts more difficult, as the (previous) position of the prosecution or the defence cannot be clearly deduced from the documents submitted.5

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

The choice of the structure of the closing arguments and the manner in which they are delivered is a matter solely within the discretion of the prosecution counsel or the defence counsel. This is a fundamental principle of the “general freedom of rhetoric”, from which it follows directly that the Be. only gives the courts minimal power to control these statements. The legal content of this function consists merely in the fact that the court may (1) warn the person concerned or, in repeated cases, exercise the right to be silenced if the speech is intended to delay the proceedings, or (2) interrupt the speech if it contains expressions that constitute an offence,6 or create disorder.7

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

The general rules of fairness towards procedural actors must also apply during the speeches. Accordingly, the opposing party – e.g. the prosecutor, other defendants, witnesses, experts – must not be unduly ridiculed in these final submissions, nor may their professional integrity or credibility be called into question without justification or in a manner that does not meet the criteria of objectivity.

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

Written closing arguments are also possible, but there is no statutory description of these. In my view, in such a case, we are talking about a final indictment on the side of the prosecution and a “defence brief” on the side of the defence. In this context, the Be. only establishes the following:

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

  • closing arguments must also be served on the prosecution, the accused and the defence;
  • when presented orally, it is sufficient to present them in substance (shortened closing).8
 

Jegyzet elhelyezéséhez, kérjük, lépj be.!

Generally speaking, I think that whether the prosecution’s or the defence’s final legal position is oral or written is of no particular relevance to the assessment of the evidence.

11.9.1. The prosecution’s case (plea)

11.9.2. The defence

11.9.3. Differences between prosecutors’ and lawyers’ closing arguments. Summary

1 Although the Code of Criminal Procedure also allows for the written submission of the closing argument, in such cases its oral presentation is also mandatory, with the proviso that the person representing the prosecution or the defence may – in such cases – confine himself/herself to the essence of the closing argument [§ 541 (5)].
2 Benedek Szitás: Jog és retorika különös tekintettel a perbeszédek szerepére. [Law and rhetoric, with special reference to the role of the pleadings.] https://jogaszvilag.hu/eletmod/jog-es-retorika-kulonos-tekintettel-a-perbeszedek-szerepere/
3 Flórián Tremmel: Büntető eljárásjog. Különös rész. [Criminal procedure. Special part.] Pécs, 1999, 60.
4 I do not claim that the only and exclusive way to do this is to record it in the trial transcript. This would obviously be impossible in a trial, as the immediate recording of a live verdict would most likely test even the most diligent court reporter. However, under another name – even as a special type of file – the full documentation of the closing arguments could be attached separately to the court file. The best solution in this respect would be to make an audio recording.
5 It is also because of the deficiencies in the keeping of the minutes that the defender may quote from his own notes, either in his speech or in his comments during the evidence, because the facts or circumstances referred to are not included in the minutes. This can cause serious problems, as the courts can – in principle – only consider the contents of the transcript to be relevant for the assessment of the facts.
6 E.g. The statement made constitutes a false accusation, defamation, libel, slander, etc.
7 § 504 (1)–(3) para.
8 § 541 (4)–(5) para.
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