15. The Burden of Proof

This chapter explains the rules governing the legal and evidential burdens of proof that decide which party has the responsibility of proving a fact in issue to the court. It then discusses the degree of persuasiveness the evidence must attain to satisfy the appropriate standard of proof including the test for a successful submission of no case to answer and considers the human rights issues in those exceptional situations where the accused has the legal burden of proof. For both the prosecution and the defence, the rules that allocate the burden of proof and the degree of proof are fundamental to the outcome of a case at trial.