Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act Zimbabwe 158. Persons implicated in same offence may be charged together (1) Any number of persons charged with committing or with procuring the commission of the same offence, although at different times, or with having, after the commission of the offence, harboured or assisted the offender, and any number of persons charged with receiving, although at different times, any property which has been obtained by means of an offence, or any part of any property so obtained, may be charged with substantive offences in the same indictment, summons or charge, and may be tried together, notwithstanding that the principal offender or the person who so obtained the property is not included in the same indictment, summons or charge or is not amenable to justice. (2) A person who counsels or procures another to commit an offence, or who aids another person in committing an offence, or who after the commission of an offence harbours or assists the offender, may be charged in the same indictment, summons or charge with the principal offender, and may be tried with him or separately or may be indicted and tried separately, whether the principal offender has or has not been convicted or is or is not amenable to justice. 159. Joint trial of persons charged with different offences When it is alleged in an indictment, summons or charge that two or more persons have committed separate offences at the same time and place or at the same place and about the same time and the prosecutor informs the court that any evidence which is, in his opinion, admissible at the trial of those persons is, in his opinion, also admissible at the trial of the other person or persons, such persons may be tried jointly for those offences on that indictment, summons or charge. Part XI – Procedure before commencement of trial A. In High Court 160. Bringing of accused persons to trial before High court (1) Except as is otherwise expressly provided in this Act as to the postponement or adjournment of a trial, every person committed for trial or sentence whom the Prosecutor-General has decided to prosecute before the High Court shall be brought to trial on such date as may be determined by the Prosecutor-General: Provided that the High Court may, on application by the accused and on good cause shown by him, order that the trial shall take place on an earlier date than that determined by the ProsecutorGeneral. (2) If a person referred to in subsection (1) is not brought to trial after the expiry of six months from the date of his committal for trial, his case shall be dismissed: Provided that any period during which such person is, through circumstances beyond the control of the Prosecutor-General, not available to stand trial shall not be included as part of the period of six months referred to in this subsection. (3) [subsection repealed by section 13 of Act 9 of 2006] 161. Change of place of trial (1) When an indictment has been presented against an accused person in the High Court, any judge may, upon application by or on behalf of the Prosecutor-General or by or on behalf of the accused, order that the trial shall be held at some place other than that specified in the notice of trial and at a time to be named in the order. By Laws.Africa and contributors. Licensed under CC-BY. Share widely and freely. 75