The prosecutor presents this "bill" to a , a group of typically 16 to 23 citizens. Unlike a trial, this process is secret and involves only the prosecutor, the grand jurors, and witnesses—no defense attorney or judge is present during deliberations.
A "bill of indictment" begins as a formal written accusation prepared by a prosecutor. At this stage, it is technically a —a proposal that a specific person committed a specific crime. bill of indictment
: It must be a "plain, concise, and definite" statement of the facts. It often contains multiple counts , each representing a separate alleged offense. The prosecutor presents this "bill" to a ,
After hearing the evidence, the grand jury votes on the draft: Drafting the Indictment | The Crown Prosecution Service the grand jurors