The Criminal Justice (Armed Forces Code of Practice for Victims of Crime) Regulations 2015

Trial at Service court

171.  If you do go to court to give evidence at the trial, you are entitled to:

(1) wherever possible, meet the Service Prosecuting Authority advocate (the lawyer who presents the case against the accused) or representative to ask him or her questions about what will happen in court, how long you may have to wait before giving evidence and be told of any delay;

(2) ask court staff if you and any family members who are also attending court can use a different entrance and exit from the accused and their family and friends. This means that when you go to court you do not need to see the accused or their family and friends;

(3) wait and be seated in an area separate from the accused and their family and friends. If you have family members who may attend court, they will also be seated in a separate area from the accused and their family and friends wherever possible;

(4) be given a contact point at the court where you can find out what is happening while you are waiting to give your evidence;

(5) have any Special Measures arranged for you by the court staff when the court has ordered them. For example, if you have pre-recorded your witness statement, the court may, as a Special Measure, allow this to be played to the court so that you do not have to give this evidence again. You would then be asked questions about your evidence. This is called cross-examination. Another Special Measure is for you to provide your evidence from a different room using a video link;

(6) give your contact details to court staff so they can call you back quickly if you have left the court building for a short while;

(7) watch the trial in the public gallery if you have finished or are not giving evidence as a witness.