The Crown Court (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996

Amendment to the principal Rules

3.  After rule 44B there shall be added the following rule

“Video recordings of testimony from child witnesses

44C.— (1) Any party may apply for leave under Article 81A of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (in this rule referred to as the “1989 Order”) to tender in evidence a video recording of testimony from a witness where—

(a) the offence charged is one to which Article 81(3) of the 1989 Order applies;

(b) in the case of an offence falling within Article 81(3)(a) or (b), the proposed witness is under the age of 14 or, if he was under 14 when the video recording was made, is under the age of 15;

(c) in the case of an offence falling within Article 81(3)(c), the proposed witness is under the age of 17 or, if he was under 17 when the video recording was made, is under the age of 18; and

(d) the video recording is of an interview conducted between an adult and a person coming within sub-paragraph (b) or (c) (not being the accused or one of the accused) which relates to any matter in issue in the proceedings;

(2) An application under paragraph (1) shall be made by giving notice in writing which shall be in Form 6 in the Schedule. The application shall be accompanied by the video recording which it is proposed to tender in evidence and shall include the following, namely—

(a) the name of the defendant and the offence or offences charged;

(b) the name and date of birth of the witness in respect of whom the application is made;

(c) the date on which the video recording was made;

(d) a statement that in the opinion of the applicant the witness is willing and able to attend the trial for cross-examination;

(e) a statement of the circumstances in which the video recording was made which complies with paragraph (4) below;

(f) the date on which the video recording was disclosed to the other party or parties.

(3) Where it is proposed to tender part only of a video recording of an interview with the witness, an application under paragraph (1) must specify that part and be accompanied by a video recording of the entire interview, including those parts which it is not proposed to tender in evidence, and by a statement of the circumstances in which the video recording of the entire interview was made which complies with paragraph (4) below.

(4) The statement of the circumstances in which the video recording was made referred to in paragraphs (2)(e) and (3) above, shall include the following information, except in so far as it is contained in the recording itself, namely—

(a) the times at which the recording commenced and finished, including details of any interruptions;

(b) the location at which the recording was made and the usual function of the premises;

(c) the name, age and occupation of any person present at any point during the recording; the time for which he was present; his relationship (if any) to the witness and to the defendant;

(d) a description of the equipment used including the number of cameras used and whether they were fixed or mobile; the number and location of microphones; the video format used and whether there were single or multiple recording facilities;

(e) the location of the mastertape if the video recording is a copy and details of when and by whom the copy was made.

(5) An application under paragraph (1) shall be made within 28 days from the date—

(a) of the committal for trial of the defendant; or

(b) on which the Notice of Transfer under Article 4 of the Children’s Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(1) was given; or

(c) on which leave to present an indictment under section 2(2)(e) of the Grand Jury (Abolition) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969(2), is given; or

(d) on which an order for retrial is made.

(6) The period of 28 days in paragraph (5) may be extended by a judge, either before or after it expires, on an application made in writing, specifying the grounds of the application. The chief clerk shall notify all the parties of the decision of the judge on the application for extension of time.

(7) The notice under paragraph (2) or (6) shall be served on the chief clerk and at the same time, copies thereof shall be served by the applicant on every other party to the proceedings. Copies of any video recording required by paragraph (2) or (3) to accompany the notice shall at the same time be sent to the court and to any other party who has not already been served with a copy or in the case of a defendant acting in person, shall be made available for viewing by him.

(8) A party who receives a copy of a notice under paragraph (2) shall, within 14 days of service of the notice, notify the applicant and the chief clerk, in writing—

(a) whether he objects to the admission of any part of the video recording or recordings disclosed, giving his reasons why it would not be in the interests of justice for it to be admitted; and

(b) whether he would agree to the admission of part of the video recording or recordings disclosed and if so, which part or parts; and

(c) whether he wishes to be represented at any hearing of the application.

(9) After the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph (8), a judge shall determine whether an application under paragraph (1) is to be dealt with—

(a) without a hearing; or

(b) where any party notifies the chief clerk pursuant to paragraph (8) that he objects to the admission of any part of the video recording and that he wishes to be represented at any hearing, or in any other case where the judge so directs, at a hearing at which the applicant and such other party or parties as the judge may direct may be represented,

and the chief clerk shall notify the applicant and, where necessary, the other party or parties, of the time and place of any such hearing.

(10) The chief clerk shall within 3 days of the decision of the judge in relation to an application under paragraph (1) being made, notify all the parties of it in Form 7 in the Schedule and, where leave is granted, the notification shall state whether the whole or specified parts only of the video recording or recordings disclosed are to be admitted in evidence.”.

(1)

S.I. 1995/757 (N.I. 3)

(2)

1969 c. 15 (N.I.)