Criminal Justice Act 2003

Prospective

56 Interpretation of Part 8 E+W

(1) In this Part—

• “legal representative” means an authorised advocate or authorised litigator (as defined by section 119(1) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41)),

• “petty-sessional court-house” has the same meaning as in the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43),

• “petty sessions area” has the same meaning as in the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 (c. 25),

• F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “witness”, in relation to any criminal proceedings, means a person called, or proposed to be called, to give evidence in the proceedings.

(2) In this Part “live link” means a live television link or other arrangement by which a witness, while at a place in the United Kingdom which is outside the building where the proceedings are being held, is able to see and hear a person at the place where the proceedings are being held and to be seen and heard by the following persons.

(3) They are—

(a) the defendant or defendants,

(b) the judge or justices (or both) and the jury (if there is one),

(c) legal representatives acting in the proceedings, and

(d) any interpreter or other person appointed by the court to assist the witness.

(4) The extent (if any) to which a person is unable to see or hear by reason of any impairment of eyesight or hearing is to be disregarded for the purposes of subsection (2).

(5) Nothing in this Part is to be regarded as affecting any power of a court—

(a) to make an order, give directions or give leave of any description in relation to any witness (including the defendant or defendants), or

(b) to exclude evidence at its discretion (whether by preventing questions being put or otherwise).

Textual Amendments

F1 In s. 56(1) definition of "rules of court" omitted (1.9.2004) by virtue of The Courts Act 2003 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2035), art. 3, Sch. para. 48 (with art. 2(2))