171—Duties of registrar with respect to notices of appeal etc
(1) The registrar must
take all necessary steps for obtaining a hearing under this Act of any appeals
or applications, notice of which is given to the registrar under this Act, and
must obtain and lay before the Court of Appeal in proper form all documents,
exhibits and other things relating to the proceedings in the court before
which the appellant or applicant was tried which appear necessary for the
proper determination of the appeal or application.
(2) If it appears to
the registrar that any notice of an appeal against a conviction does not show
any substantial ground of appeal, the registrar may refer the appeal to the
Court of Appeal for summary determination and, where the case is so referred,
the Court may, if it considers that the appeal is frivolous or vexatious and
can be determined without adjourning it for a full hearing, dismiss the appeal
summarily without calling on any persons to attend the hearing or to appear
for the Crown.
(3) Any documents,
exhibits or other things connected with the trial of any person on information
must be kept in the custody of the court of trial, in accordance with rules of
court made for the purpose, for such time as may be provided by the rules and
subject to such power as may be given by the rules for the conditional release
of any such documents, exhibits or things from that custody.
(4) The registrar must
furnish the necessary forms and instructions in relation to notices of appeal
or notices of application under this Act to any person who demands them and to
officers of courts, keepers of gaols and such other officers or persons as the
registrar thinks fit, and the keeper of a gaol must cause those forms and
instructions to be placed at the disposal of prisoners desiring to appeal or
to make any application under this Act and must cause any such notice given by
such prisoners to be forwarded on behalf of the prisoner to the registrar.