Crime and Trial Act of 2007

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Crime and Trial Acts

Acts of 2007

Preface; 

Ravenmire has not had a set list of laws other than that of the Holy Mother Church since its creation. The people have followed a loose code of conduct, but in recent times and with our continued growth, it is time we set in stone a legal system. These acts shall not overpass the laws of Canondom; if the two contradict each other, the laws of Canondom shall come first.

 

Act I. 

§I-I 

If a person is accused of a crime, depending on the nature and severity of the crime, they shall either have a trial or face swift justice. A trial shall consist of the accused, a judge, a prosecutor, a jury of six individuals from Ravenmire in good standing with both the church and the realm, and, if permitted by the judge, a lawyer if requested by the defendant.

 

•  Judge 

 

A judge may be a Noble Lord, an Elected Minister, or a Knight of one of the Ravenstates. The judge shall oversee the trial of the accused and select the jury from the people of Ravenmire. If the jury cannot reach a decision within an hour, the judge has the right to call for a vote. If the vote is tied, the judge shall cast the tie-breaking vote.

 

• Prosecutor

 

A prosecutor is a levy member or it may also be another individual appointed by the judge, Noble Lord, or Elected Minister. The prosecutor presents evidence of the accused's guilt and questions the witnesses about what they have seen.

 

• Witnesses

 

A witness is an individual who could testify about the events in question or the character of the accused.
 

• Jury 

 

A jury shall consist of the smallfolk from the land where the crime was committed. The jury shall comprise exactly six people, neither more nor fewer. It is the jury's responsibility to determine whether the accused is guilty. If they cannot reach a decision within one saint's hour, the judge has the right to call for a vote. If the vote is tied, the judge shall cast the tie-breaking vote.

 

• Accused

 

The accused is an individual who has been accused of the crime for the trial.  

 

§I-II 

A trial shall be held immediately following the crime, if possible. However, if a proper trial cannot be held right away, it may be rescheduled with the permission of a Noble Lord of a Ravenstate or the elected Minister of Parliament for the local area. If a trial cannot be conducted, it is the responsibility of the Ravenstate levy to handle the accused party or detain them until a trial can be arranged.

 

§I-III

A trial shall begin with the accused stating their name, race, gender and a testimony of the events. The trial will then proceed to the witnesses' testimonies, followed by the prosecutor presenting any relevant evidence to the jury. Once all testimonies and evidence have been presented, the prosecutor shall give a closing argument, and the accused shall do the same. The jury will then retire to another room to deliberate. If they are unable to reach a verdict after one saint’s hour, the judge has the right to call for a vote on the verdict.

 

§I-IV

Any citizen of Ravenmire has the right to request an appeal of a verdict if they believe the punishment is unjust. The appeal must be brought before Parliament, where it will be voted on, and a majority vote is required for the appeal to proceed. If the appeal vote is successful, another trial shall be held by either the Prime Minister or the Sovereign of Ravenmire. If the appeal is upheld, the judge who issued the original verdict must pay a fine of 150 to 1000 mina to the wronged party

Act II. 

Petty Crimes of Ravenmire

 

§II-I 

The following is a list of Petty Crimes and their punishments, ordered from Least to most severe.

 

1. The Act of Littering, or throwing an item on the ground without the purpose of retrieving it shall face a Fine of 10 to 30 Mina depending on the severity.
2. The act of Speeding on Horseback in The Royal City, Speeding is defended by going over 10 Yards pers Second on horseback. The Fine shall be 1 to 3 saint hour community service, or a Mina fine of 20 to 40 mina depending on the level of Speeding.
3. Riding under the influence of alcohol , cactus green or any other potion or herb which may cause you to ride over hastily, the Fine shall be from 2 to 3 saint hours community service or a 30 to 50 mina fine. 
4. The act of Being a Public nuisance, or a person found causing a large amount of chaos shall face a 35 to 45 mina fine, and an hour in the stockades.
5. The act of Slander or the act of writing or spending false information shall face a fine of 40 to 50 mina and must write a public apology to the wronged party.
6. Riding a Horse over the age of 130 as a human shall result in the revoking of one's horse and a fine of 55 mina. This law does not count for other descend races, unless they are at least part human. But the age shall be rounded up to 175 for half Orc, 180 for half Dwarfs and 185 for half Elves, but the fine shall stay the same. 
7. The act of Tax Evasion, or the act of refusing to pay the taxes shall face a fine of 10 mina per missed saints week. 
8. The act of Trespass is the act of entering land/home without permission, which shall result in a fine of 60 to 80 mina or the culprit being forced to work for the wronged party for 1 saint's day.
9. Resisting Arrest, refusing to listen to the levy, or Resisting by force shall result in a fine of 90 to 120 mina. 
10. The act of Assault or causing harm to another for the purpose to injure another descendant outside of a duel or an agreed fight shall result in a fine of 100 to 500 mina depending on the severity of the injuries caused.  
11. The Act of causing a Bar Fight or a large fight in anycase outside of a pre-ranged skirmish shall face a fine of 150 to 600 mina and or banishment. If anyone is killed in this fight the charge shall be changed to Murder.

 

§II-II

The Following shall be the list of crimes considered to be ones of violinist intent. They shall be listed in order of severity, going from least to most severe. 

 

1. The act of Petty Theft or stealing an object under the price of 100 mina shall result in a fine of 100 to 400 mina and a brand to be made of the thief's hand with the word "Thief." If the thief is found committing another crime, then they shall face the removal of their hands.
2. The Act of bribing a public official or guard shall face a fine of 100 to 500 Mina and shall face a small brand of a gold coin on the palm of their hands.  
3. The act of Theft or stealing an object over 100 mina shall result in a fine of 200 to 600 mina, a brand placed on the forehead of the thief with the word Furtum, and the removal of the theft’s dominant hand. If found committing another crime after receiving the brand, then execution or banishment shall be imposed.
4. The Act of Kidnapping or holding someone against their will without a legal reason shall face a fine of 500 to 1000 mina and or banishment from the Realm.
5. The act of Major theft or stealing an object over 1000 mina shall result in both hands being removed from the theft and the branding of the words Furtum on their chest and Forehead. Depending on the severity of the crime, they may also be executed or banished afterwards. 
6. The Act of Removing a brand given by the state of Ravenmire or receiving a prosthetic for a limb removed for committing a crime shall result in the punishment of execution or Banishment of the realm. 
7. The Act of a Guard or knight accepting a bribe shall face the punishment of beheading and shall have all honors removed from their records. 
8. The Act of Committing Arson, or the act of trying to set a building ablaze shall face the punishment of  being burned at the stake. 
9. The Act of Banditry, or the act of  stealing with force and using harm to commit the theft, shall face the punishment of execution. 
10. The Act of Murder, or the act of killing and or attempting to kill someone other than in the act of self defense or in the service of the realm shall face the punishment of execution. 
11. The Act of Being a Darkspawn, or the act of being afflicted by the curse of Vampirism, Wearbeastism, undeath or being a Daemon, or any other enemy of the Almighty. Shall face the punishment of being burned at the stake.
12. The Act of using Unholy or Dark magic, shall face the punishment of blinding and then execution. 
13. The Act of Committing Treason, or working against the realm of Ravenmire, such as spying, regicide, killing a member of parliament, killing a vassal lord of Ravenmire, or allowing an enemy of Ravenmire into a city, shall be punished by execution in the manner of being drawn and quartered. All wealth belonging to the perpetrators shall go to the crown

 His Grace, Constantine Leopold Haverlock, Prime Minister of Ravenmire, Prince of Sedan, Duke of Blackworth, Count of Illation, Patriarch of the House of Haverlock

HIS HIGHNESS, Earoslav I, Sovereign of Ravenmire, Duke of the Ravenlands, Count of Caerfran, Protector of the Smallfolk & of the Far North, Grand Salt Man and Patriarch of the House Rostova