Evidence Flashcards
Woolmington Principle
The Burdon of proof lies clearly with the prosecution in relation to all elements of the offence.
Beyond reasonable doubt
A very high standard of proof which the crown will have met only if at the end of the case you are sure the accused is guilty.
Reasonable doubt
An honest uncertainty left in your mind about the guilt of the accused after you have given careful and impartial consideration to all of the evidence.
Balance of probabilities
It must simply show that it’s more probable than not
Visual identification evidence
A confident statement by a person based wholly or partly on what that person saw, to the effect that a defendant was present at or near a place when the offending was done. An account whether oral or in writing of the confident statement described above.
Formal procedure photo montage
- ASAP
- No few than 7
- No indication to who the suspect was is provided
- Advised may or may not be there
- Montage is sworn in
- Pictorial record and sworn in to be true and correct by the officer who conducted the montage
- Any other requirment
Reasons for not following formal procedure
- Suspect refuses to take part
- Appearance of suspect can not be disguised
- Change in appearance
- ID wasn’t believed to be an issue
- ID was made to OC soon after the offence in the investigation period
- ID made to an OC in a chance meeting
Effect of S45 visual ID
- Visual ID will be admission unless defence can prove on balance of probabilities it is unreliable.
- Issues with how it was conducted
- If no formal ID conducted it will be inadmissible unless prosecution can prove that ID is reliable beyond reason doubt
- Conducted by enforcement agencies other than Police.
- Only applies to those suspected of committing an offence
- Avoids dock ID
Who should conduct ID Parade
Sergeant, senior sergeant or above
Formal procedure
- 7 Similar appearance individuals should be picked
- Not police members
- Different participants should be used if there is more than 1 parade for the witness
- Suspects to be advised that they do not need to take part and may have a lawyer present
- Witness not allowed to see suspect before the parade
- Must be told may or may not be there
- OC must record the any indication or person picked out
- A written or pictorial record should be made of the procedure
Good reasons for not following formal procedure
- Refusal to participate
- Singular in appearance
- Change in appearance ( If there is a delay)
- ID doesn’t appear to be an issue
Recognition
- Identification made shortly after the offence ( IE shows the officer on arrival)
- Chance meetings
Admissibility of voice ID
Voice ID is not admissible unless the prosecution proves on the balance of probabilities that the evidence is reliable.
Prosecution only needs to prove that evidence is probably reliable.
Defendant statements
Evidence offered by the prosecution of statement made by a defendant is not admissible against a co defendant.
Relates to accuracy and soundness of the statement.
Evidence offered by the prosecution of a statement made by a defendant is not admissible against that defendant if it’s excluded under:
- The reliability rule (s28)
- The oppression rule (s29)
- The improperly obtained evidence rule (s30)
Section 28 Reliability rule
Applies to a criminal proceeding in which the prosecution offers or proposes to offer a statement of a defendant if:
- The defendant offers issues with reliability and advises the judge.
- The judge raises the issue and informed the prosecution.
The judge may exclude the statement unless satisfied that on the balance of probability that the circumstances in which the statement was taken did not effect reliability.
Exceptions:
- If the prosecution wishes to use the statement as evidence of the defendants physical, mental or phycological condition.
- Where the prosecution offers the defendants statement only as evidence of if it was made.