'Prima facie' is a latin phrase meaning 'at first sight.' In law, it is used to refer to a body of evidence sufficient to establish guilt unless the suspected guilty party is able to refute it. In essence, it means that there is a case to answer, and the ability of a prosecuting authority to establish a 'prima facie' case against a defendant would normally be a prerequisite for a trial to take place.
If a prima facie case has not, in fact, been established, an attempted prosecution would fail as a matter of course, without the need for a defendant even to refute the prosecution's case or to present contradictory evidence.
The phrase 'prima facie' is also used in academic discourse in the field of philosophy with substantially the same meaning as the legal term of art.
If a prima facie case has not, in fact, been established, an attempted prosecution would fail as a matter of course, without the need for a defendant even to refute the prosecution's case or to present contradictory evidence.
The phrase 'prima facie' is also used in academic discourse in the field of philosophy with substantially the same meaning as the legal term of art.