When any case comes before the Crown Court the first (meaningful) hearing is known as the Pleas and Case Management Hearing. If a defendant pleads 'guilty' then the matter will proceed to a sentence hearing. If 'not guilty' then a trial will need to be held and therefore various 'directions' are given by the judge for both sides to complete any necessary work before the trial date, which can often be set at this time. The aim of these hearings is to try and eliminate the need for any further court hearings before the trial is heard - however, things don't always go to plan...
The use of a 'mention hearing' can be to deal with all manner of things which could include (though not an exhaustive list) any outstanding issues of prosecution evidence disclosure, unexpected witness availablity difficulties, having to change a trial date and/or venue, preliminary arguments over issues of law or admissability of evidence (if before the nominated trial judge): either the court, prosecution or defence can ask for a case to be listed 'for mention' if matters cannot be resolved administratively and a judge is needed to make decisions in relation to a forthcoming trial.

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Note added at 12 hrs (2010-10-13 08:50:47 GMT)
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http://www.suffolk.police.uk/NR/rdonlyres/260BA8E2-D659-4DBC...

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Note added at 12 hrs (2010-10-13 09:06:05 GMT)
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Mohla by si tam možno dodať "problémov/prekážok" v priebehu...., ale asi by to bolo príliš dlhé.