Duration from initiation to finalisation

For all defendants, the median length of time from initiation to finalisation was 6 weeks. This length varied depending on court level. Defendants took longer to finalise in the Higher Courts (29 weeks) compared to the Children's Courts (9 weeks) and Magistrates' Courts (5 weeks). (Table 1)

Duration also varied depending on the method by which the defendant was finalised. Cases that were acquitted had a longer median duration than those where the defendant was proven guilty:

• 41 compared to 27 weeks in the Higher Courts;
• 17 compared to 8 weeks in the Children's Courts; and
• 16 compared to 4 weeks in the Magistrates' Courts. (Table 7)