PART IVCOURSE OF JUSTICE: EVIDENCE, PROCEDURE, ETC.
Corroboration
Abolition of corroboration rules45
1
Any requirement whereby at a trial on indictment it is obligatory for the court to give the jury a warning about convicting the accused on the uncorroborated evidence of a person merely because that person is—
a
an alleged accomplice of the accused, or
b
where the offence charged is a sexual offence, the person in respect of whom it is alleged to have been committed,
is hereby abrogated.
2
In Article 13(2) of the [1988 NI 17] Criminal Justice (Evidence, Etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (abolition of requirement of corroboration warning in respect of evidence of a child) the words from “in relation to” to the end shall be omitted.
3
Any requirement that—
a
is applicable at the summary trial of a person for an offence, and
b
corresponds to the requirement mentioned in paragraph (1) or that mentioned in Article 13(2) of the [1988 NI 17.] Criminal Justice (Evidence, Etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988,
is hereby abrogated.
4
Nothing in this Article applies in relation to—
a
any trial, or
b
any preliminary investigation or preliminary inquiry into an indictable offence conducted by a magistrates' court,
which began before the coming into operation of this Article.
Abolition of corroboration requirements under Criminal Law Amendment Act 188546
1
In the [1885 c. 69.] Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 in—
a
section 2 (procurement); and
b
section 3 (procurement of women by threats, false pretences or administering drugs),
the words from “Provided that” onwards (which provide that a person shall not be convicted of the offence concerned on the evidence of one witness only unless the witness is corroborated) are hereby repealed.
2
Nothing in this Article applies in relation to—
a
any trial, or
b
any preliminary investigation or preliminary inquiry into an indictable offence conducted by a magistrates' court,
which began before the coming into operation of this Article.