EVIDENCE Flashcards
Define evidence
The whole body of evidence in which the court may take into account to reach their decision. Evidence may be oral, written or visual
Define admissible evidence
Evidence that is legally able to be received by the court
Define Relevance
Evidence is relevant if it has a tendency to prove or disprove anything that is of consequence to the determination of a proceeding section 7(3) EA2006
Define. Facts in issue
Facts in issue are those which
- the prosecution must prove to establish the elements of the offence or
- the defendant must prove to succeed with a defence in respect of which he or she carries the burden of proof
Define - Exclusionary rules
These are rules that exclude evidence usually because they are unreliable, unduly prejudicial or otherwise unfair to admit it
Define - Weight of evidence
The weight of evidence is its value in relation to the facts in issue. Factors to consider are
- the extent to which, if accepted, it is directly relevant to or conclusive of those facts
- the extent to which it is supported or contradicted by other evidence produced
- the veracity of the witness
The weight is the degree of probative force that can be accorded to the evidence
Define - Offer evidence
Offering evidence includes eliciting evidence by cross-examination of a witness called by another party
Define - Give evidence
A witness gives evidence , a party offers evidence, a party who testifies both gives and offers evidence
In a proceeding evidence may be given in the ordinary way. What are those ways
- either orally in a courtroom in front of a judge or jury
- parties to the proceeding
- counsel and members of the public allowed by the judge
- an affidavit filed in The court
- or reading a statement in a courtroom if prosecution and defence consent
Giving evidence in an alternative way
- in a court room but unable to see the defendant or other person
- outside the courtroom or by video recording made before the hearing
Giving evidence in any other way
Provided by the evidence act or any other enactment
Define - incriminate
To incriminate is to provide information that is reasonably likely to lead to or increase the likelihood of the prosecution of a person for a criminal offence
Define - Proceeding
A proceeding conducted by the court and any application to a court connected with a proceeding
Define - a statement
This is a spoken or written assertion by a person or non verbal conduct of a person intended by that person as an assertion of any matter
Define - witness
This is a person who gives evidence and is able to be cross-examined in a proceeding
Define - hearsay statement
This is a statement that was made by a person other than a witness and is offered in evidence in the proceeding to prove the truth of its contents.
Define - veracity
This is the deposition to refrain from lying
Define - propensity
Propensity evidence is evidence about a persons propensity to actin a certain way or have a particular state of mind
Define - direct evidence
This is any evidence given by a witness as to fact in issue that he or she has seen, heard or otherwise experienced
Define - Circumstantial evidence
This is evidence of circumstances that do not directly prove any fact in issue but will allow inferences about the existence of those facts to be drawn
The fundamental principle in criminal law is the presumption of innocence. This is known as the
Woolmington principle.
Practical obligation on defence
The defendant does not have to prove anything if the prosecution proves facts that the defendant committed the act then the defendant has to produce a story or evidence if they want to suggest the conclusion is wrong
Evidential burden on defence
The defendant may wish to put up a defence to a charge that suggests an explanation such as self defence etc
An exception to the woolmington principal where the “burden of proof” is placed on the defendant. The most common example is
The defence of insanity section 23(1) CA61
Standard of proof for prosecution
Beyond reasonable doubt
Standard of proof for defence
On the balance of probabilities
Reasonable doubt amounts to
An honest and reasonable uncertainty left in your mind about the guilt of the defendant after you have given careful and impartial consideration to all the evidence.
The presumption of innocence means
The accused does not have to give or call any evidence and does not have to establish his or her innocence
The burden of proof lies with the prosecution except where?
- the defence of insanity
- specific statutory exceptions exist
- the offence is a public welfare regulatory offence
Balance of probabilities
Must simply show that it is more probable than not
Section 6 of the evidence act 2006 does what
Helps secure the just determination of proceedings
Purpose of section 6
To help secure the just determination of the proceeding by
- providing for facts to be established by the application of logical rules
- rules of evidence that recognise the importance of the BOR and
- promoting fairness to parties and witnesses and
- protecting rights of confidentiality and other important public interests and
- avoiding unjustifiable expense and delay and
- enhancing access to the law of evidence
Facts that prove the charge
The facts must prove the elements of the charge
Facts in issue
These are facts which in law need to be proven to succeed with the case. They are the facts alleged in the charging document and denied by a plea of not guilty
Circumstantial evidence offers indirect proof of s fact in issue. A judge or jury may infer the existence of a fact in issue
A
A general rule of evidence is
That all facts in issue and facts relevant to the issue must be proved by evidence
Two main exceptions to the general rule when no evidence needs to be given of facts because
- Judicial notice is taken
- The facts are formally admitted
What is judicial notice
When the court takes judicial notice of a fact it declares that it will find that the exists ie. Xmas day is celebrated on 25 December
Section 128(1) - notice of incontrovertible facts
A judge or jury may take notice of facts so known and accepted and cannot reasonably be questioned
Section 129(1) - admission of reliable published documents
A judge may, in matters of public history, science, or art admit as evidence any published documents they consider to be reliable sources of information
Section 129 codifies the common law exception to the hearsay rule that -
Admitted accredited histories, scientific works and maps may be admitted as evidence in order to prove facts of a public nature
Section 9(2) and 9(3) relate to facts formally admitted
In a trial the counsel for either side can accept that some evidence is accepted or proven at the outset, so it need not be discussed.
Presumptions where no direct evidence is offered or obtainable, disputed facts are sometimes inferred from other facts which are proved or known.
Presumptions may be of law or of fact
Presumptions of law are inferences that have been expressly drawn by law from particular facts
Presumptions of law may be either conclusive or rebuttable
Presumptions of fact are
Simply logical inferences and so are always rebuttable.
Evidence is admissible if it can be-
Legally received by the court
Determining admissibility
No particular standard of proof attaches to decisions as to the admissibility of evidence unless a provision under the evidence act provides for it. Ie section 45 - identification evidence in rape trials where the judge decides on admissibility
R v burrows - the court held that
The party wishing to bring the evidence has the burden of showing the evidence is admissible
The courts refer to the following principles of evidence law when deciding its admissibility
- relevance
- reliability
- unfairness
Relevance section 7. The fundamental condition for the admissibility of evidence is that it must be relevant
A
Section 7(1) - all relevant evidence is admissible in a proceeding except evidence that is -
(a) inadmissible under this act or any other act - or
(b) excluded under this act or any other act
2 evidence that is not relevant is not admissible in a proceeding
3 evidence is relevant in a proceeding if it has a tendency to prove or disprove anything that is of consequence to the determination of the proceeding
Relevant evidence
Means any evidence that has a tendency to prove or disprove anything that is of consequence in determination of the proceeding
Fairness as to the admissibility of evidence is a matter of discretion for the trial judge
It usually arrives in two ways
- if it would result in some unfair prejudice in the proceeding
- if it were obtained in some unfair manner ie, obtaining a confession by some unfair and improper methods
The section 8 test involves balancing the probative value of evidence against the risk that it will,
- have an unfairly prejudicial effect on the proceeding or
- needlessly prolong the proceeding
Section 8(1)(a) must take into account the right of the defendant to offer an effective defence
A
Section 15 relates to a witness giving evidence to prove the facts necessary to decide whether some other evidence should be admitted. Voir dire
If the other evidence is not forthcoming then the provisionally admitted evidence must be excluded
What is the aim of the evidence act 2006
To help secure the just determination of proceedings
What are the two exceptions for having to prove any facts in issue
- when they are formally admitted by both prosecution and defence and
- when judicial notice is taken of the facts
What are the three principles of evidence law
- relevance
- reliability
- unfairness
For facts to be received as evidence they must be both.
- relevant and admissible
The exclusive rules of evidence deal with
- veracity
- propensity
- hearsay
- opinion
- identification
- improperly obtained evidence
Section 8 is the general rule of exclusion relating to the probative value as opposed to the prejudicial effect of the proceeding
A
What is the purpose of the evidence act under section 6
a, providing for facts to be established by the application of logical rules and
b, providing rules of evidence that recognise the importance of the bill of rights and
c, promoting fairness to parties and witnesses and
d, protecting rights of confidentiality and other important public interests and
e, avoiding unjustifiable expense and delay and
f, enhancing access to the law of evidence
Section 8 test for exclusion of evidence
Involves balancing the probative value of the evidence against the risk that it will have an u fair prejudicial effect on the proceeding
The exclusive rules of evidence deal with
- Veracity
- Propensity
- Hearsay
- Opinion
- Identification
- Improperly obtained evidence
General rule of exclusion of probative value versus prejudicial effect on the proceeding
A
Veracity is a disposition to
Refrain from lying
Propensity is a tendency to
Act in a particular way
The rules about a persons veracity do not apply if the veracity is an element of the offence in which they are being tried ie
Perjury
The veracity or propensity rules do not apply to sentencing or bail hearings except when the evidence is covered by
Section 44 which relates to the sexual experience of a complainant
Section 37 relates to
Veracity rules
Section 37 (1) states a party may not offer about a person unless the Veracity evidence is
Substantially helpful in assessing that persons veracity
Section 38 (1) a defendant may give evidence about there veracity
38(2) The prosecution may offer veracity evidence about the defendant only if
(a) they have given evidence about their own veracity or challenged the veracity of a prosecution witness and
The judge permits it
38(2)(b) judge may take into account any of the following matters
(a) the extent to which the defendant or prosecution witness veracity has been put in issue
(b) the time that has elapsed since any conviction
(c) whether evidence given by the defendant was elicited by the prosecution
Section 37(3) in deciding whether evidence proposed to be offered about a persons veracity is substantially helpful, judge may consider the following
a. Lack of veracity of person from previous dealings
b. Person has been convicted of offences that indicate a propensity for dishonesty
c. Previous inconsistent statements
d. Bias on part of that person
e. Motive on part of that person to be untruthful
37(4) a party who calls a witness
a, may not offer evidence against that persons veracity unless judge declares them hostile but,
b, may offer evidence as to the facts in issue contrary to the evidence of that person
Substantial helpfulness test applies to both
Veracity evidence in evidence in chief and
That elicited through cross examination
Substantial helpfulness is not a sufficient test in two instances
- Where the prosecution wish to offer evidence about a defendants veracity and
- Where a defendant offers veracity evidence about a co-defendant
Propensity evidence means
40(1)(a) means evidence that tends to show a persons propensity to act in a certain way or to have a particular state of mind, being evidence of acts, omissions, events or circumstances with which a person is alleged to have been involved
Propensity evidence does not include 40(1)(b)
i, 1 of the elements of the offence for which the person is being tried or
ii, the cause of action in the proceeding in question
Propensity evidence includes
- propensity as to actions
- propensity as to states mind eg, lack of inhibition or a love for violence
Propensity does not include
- evidence of any act or omission that is one of the elements to which the person is tried
- evidence that is solely about a persons veracity