A case generally finishes when the defendant is either:

• found guilty of the crime and sentenced by the judge or magistrate

• is found not guilty of the crime.

However, sometimes the case may keep going because either the prosecution or the defendant has appealed against the decision.

If the case has finished and there is no appeal, you won’t need to come to court again. Everyone in the case is free to go on with their lives.

After a case ends, the witnesses are generally allowed to speak to each other or the media. 

However, if there were any suppression orders about the evidence provided to the court, or the trial itself, you are not allowed to discuss the details even when the case has finished. If you do, you may be found in contempt of court.

CDPP prosecutors are able to tell you if there are restrictions on anything you are able to say, and you should ask if you have any questions or aren’t sure.

Once a case is over, you are still able to speak to your prosecutor or WAS officer if you want to discuss the case or any concerns you have.

• If the defendant has been released from custody or found not guilty, and you have concerns about your immediate safety, you should call the police. You should also tell the police if you experience any form of intimidation from the defendant or anyone else connected to the case. If you have immediate concerns at or after court you should speak to the prosecutor.

More information

• Dealing with the media

• Support and entitlements