SimonD submitted his thoughts on how to restructure presentation - trial_file is primary presentation unit with a primary trial and then 0 or more secondary trials. His proposals have a fair bit of common ground with my rethinking distinguishing the trial_file (1 or more trials on charges involving the same criminal in the same report) and the trial (1 charge). Will have to consider what changes need to be made to the data structure and the data, and how to process existing data into that new structure.
Here's the table modifications I'm going to need:
[ ] = obsolete field, remove from table
* * = new field or table, add to table
trials
trial_id
[case_id_fk]
trial_reference
[trial_notes]
jury_id_fk
[criminal_id_fk]
[recorder_report_id_fk]
judge_id_fk
*trial_file_id_fk* integer
[trial_printed_source]
[trial_other_document]
[trial_notes]

*trial_files*
*trial_file_id (integer, primary key, generated by xslt)
*case_id_fk (was in trial table)
*criminal_id_fk (was in trial table)
*recorder_report_id_fk (was in trial table)
*trial_file_printed_source (renamed, was in trial table)
*trial_file_other_document (renamed, was in trial table)
*trial_file_notes (renamed, was in trial table)

respites
*trial_file_id_fk*
[trial_id_fk]

outcomes
*trial_file_id_fk*
[trial_id_fk]