COACHING WITNESSES.
A POLICEMAN CENSURED.
JUSTICE EDAVAItDS’ REAIARKS.
[Pbess Association.]
AUCKLAND, August 19. In the course of evidence at the. Supreme Court to-day, in a robbery case, a young policeman under severe cross-examination by Air. Lundon. said he had made a note at the time wlmt a female witness told on the date of the robbery, July 23rd. He prepared a full statement from his notes, and showed the statement- to the witness at the Supreme - Court a week ago. His Honor, Air. Justice Edwards, stigmatised the urooedure as most improper. Addressing the witness he said. “You have no business to do anything of the sort. You have no business to refresh a witness’s memory in this way. You have taken brief notes and added io them, making a full report- That is manufacturing evidence. The witness should come here, not according to your notes, but according to her memory. 1 hope I shall not find anything of the sort again, but if I do I shall have to take serious notice of it.’.’
Speaking to the Hon. J. A. Tele. K.C.. Crown Solicitor, His Honor added, “These witnesses have no business whatever to be coached by the police from their notes. They must conic here according to their memory. I must- say it is somewhat shocking.” -
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2274, 20 August 1908, Page 2
Word Count
217COACHING WITNESSES. Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2274, 20 August 1908, Page 2
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