[2013] EWCA Crim 801

Although R. v Riat (Jaspal) [2012] EWCA Crim 1509, [2013] 1 All E.R. 349 encouraged the court to take all possible steps to enable a fearful witness to give evidence, it had to be recognised that factual situations varied from case to case, as would the steps taken by judges to deal with them. When considering whether to admit a witness statement as hearsay, a judge only had to ensure that the evidence could safely be regarded as reliable by a jury; she did not have to look for complete and independent verification of it.

CA (Crim Div) (Treacy LJ, Burnett J, Judge Collier QC)

26/04/2013