SECTION 389

(1) Every judgment shall consist of three parts: the hearing, the reasons and the verdict. (2) The part of the judgment comprising the hearing shall include: a) date of the verdict; b) name of the court; c) full names of the members of the court; d) full names and age of the interpreter; e) mention of the oath taken by the interpreter; f) full names and age of the accused and the full names of his counsel, if any; g) full names of the other parties and their counsel, if any; h) full names of witnesses. (3) The part of the judgment comprising the reasons shall set forth the facts and the law on which the judgment is based. The reasons shall relate to the criminal action, and where applicable, to the civil claim. The court shall in its reasoned judgment, deal with each count and reply to the submissions made on it. (4) The part of the judgement known as the verdict shall indicate the nature of the judgment, the level of the court, and whether the accused is guilty or not. If guilty, it shall state the offence for which he has been found guilty, the relevant sections of the law applied, the sentence pronounced and where necessary, the civil award. If not guilty, the provisions of sections 395 and 400 of this code shall be applicable The verdict shall furthermore tax and make an order as to the payment of the costs, and also mention the warning provided for in section 399. (5) In case of a collegiate bench, the member of that bench who holds a minority opinion may write his dissenting judgment and insert it in the case file. (6) The Presiding Magistrate shall read the judgment in open court. (7) The non compliance of the formalities prescribed in this section shall render judgment null and void. Courtesy of the Cameroon Center for Demoncracy and Human Rights – CCDHR: www.ccdhr.org 89 SUB-CHAPTER III DECISION OF THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE