Here is how it works. The accused agree to be committed for trial automatically, meaning they do not go to a preliminary inquiry. The questioning is then held outside court. It is important to note that the questioning is done in places other than courthouses, so without the accused present. In appropriate cases, cases with testimonial evidence, you can gather testimony that can be used at trial. This often means that delays are reduced and cases are better prepared.
Since the pilot projects are still underway, we do not have a complete picture and have not yet compiled the statistics on those cases to find out how many have been settled. In the places where this is being done, our members are finding that it is an excellent idea and a good way to replace, or at least complement, preliminary inquiries.