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OVERVIEW OF A TRIAL IN THE CROWN COURT
The Crown Court is one of the superior courts of England and Wales. Unlike the magistrates' court, which is solely a court of first instance, the Crown Court has dual jurisdiction. It has both original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction. This means that, firstly, it is a trial court and tries cases for the first time. And secondly, it is an appellate court and hears appeals from the magistrates' court.

As a court of first instance, the Crown Court tries allegations of either-way offences which have been allocated to the Crown Court by the magistrates' Court, or alternatively, where the defendant previously, at the pretrial hearing, elected for trial by jury at the Crown Court. The Crown Court must also try allegations of indictable-only offences,  these are the most serious types of offences. The same procedure used in the magistrates' court is also used in the Crown Court (opening submissions, evidence, closing). 

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