PART XIII

Miscellaneous

Trials involving vulnerable witnesses

Prohibition of personal conduct of defence in certain cases involving child witnesses under the age of 12
288E
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2
This section applies to any proceedings (other than proceedings in the JP court)—
a
in respect of any offence specified in subsection (3) below, and
b
in which a child witness who is under the age of 12 on the date of commencement of the proceedings is to give evidence at or for the purposes of any hearing in the course of the proceedings.
2A
The accused is prohibited from conducting his case in person at, or for the purposes of, any hearing at, or for the purposes of, which the child witness is to give evidence.
3
The offences referred to in subsection (2)(a) above are—
a
murder,
b
culpable homicide,
c
any offence which—
i
involves an assault on, or injury or threat of injury to, any person (including any offence involving neglect or ill-treatment of, or other cruelty to, a child), but
ii
is not an offence to which section 288C or 288DC of this Act applies,
d
abduction, and
e
plagium.
4
Section 288D of this Act applies in the case of proceedings to which this section applies as it applies in the case of proceedings in respect of a sexual offence to which section 288C of this Act applies and as if references to a relevant hearing were references to a hearing referred to in subsection (2A) above.
5
In proceedings to which this section applies, the prosecutor shall, at the same time as intimating to the accused under section 271A(13) of this Act a vulnerable witness notice in respect of the trial, serve on the accused a notice under subsection (6).
6
A notice under this subsection shall contain intimation to the accused—
a
that his case at, or for the purposes of, any hearing in the course of the proceedings at, or for the purposes of, which the child witness is to give evidence may be conducted only by a lawyer,
b
that it is therefore in his interests, if he has not already done so, to get the professional assistance of a solicitor, and
c
that if he does not engage a solicitor for the purposes of the conduct of his case at or for the purposes of the hearing, the court will do so.
7
A failure to comply with subsection (5) or (6) above does not affect the validity or lawfulness of any vulnerable witness notice or any other element of the proceedings against the accused.
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9
For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) above, proceedings shall be taken to have commenced when the indictment or, as the case may be, the complaint is served on the accused.
Words in s. 288E(6)(c) inserted (1.4.2005, 1.4.2006 and 1.4.2007 for certain purposes, otherwise 1.4.2008) by Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 5), ss. 4(3)(b)(ii), 27(1); S.S.I. 2004/405, art. 2(2), Sch. 2 (with savings in arts. 3-5); S.S.I. 2005/168, art. 2, Sch. (with savings in art. 4); S.S.I. 2006/59, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4(1)); S.S.I. 2007/101, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4); S.S.I. 2008/57, art. 2 (with art. 3)
Words in s. 288E substituted (10.3.2008, 2.6.2008, 8.12.2008, 23.2.2009 and 14.12.2009 for certain purposes, otherwise 22.2.2010) by Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 6), ss. 80, 84, Sch. para. 26(q); S.S.I. 2008/42, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/192, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/329, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2008/362, art. 3, Sch.; S.S.I. 2009/432, art. 3, Schs. 1, 2
Word in s. 288E(6)(c) substituted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 69(4)(e)(ii), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
Word in s. 288E(7) substituted (1.9.2015) by Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 1), ss. 11(9), 34; S.S.I. 2015/200, art. 2(2), sch. (with arts. 1(3), 4)
S. 288E(2A) inserted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 69(4)(c), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
Words in s. 288E(5) substituted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 87(10), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
S. 288E(6)(a) substituted for s. 288E(6)(za)(a) (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 69(4)(e)(i), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
Words in s. 288E(4) inserted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 69(4)(d), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
Words in s. 288E(2)(b) substituted (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 69(4)(b), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
S. 288E(8) repealed (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 69(4)(f), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
Words in s. 288E(3)(c)(ii) inserted (1.4.2019) by Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 5), s. 15(2), sch. para. 4(15); S.S.I. 2018/387, reg. 2 (with reg. 7)
S. 288E(1) repealed (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), ss. 69(4)(a), 206(1); S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, sch.
Word in s. 288E(5) substituted (1.9.2015) by Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 1), ss. 11(9), 34; S.S.I. 2015/200, art. 2(2), sch. (with arts. 1(3), 4)
S. 288E applied (with modifications) (23.12.2015) by The Justice of the Peace Courts (Special Measures) (Scotland) Order 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/447), arts. 1(2), 4 (with art. 1(3))