PREPARING EVIDENCE FOR COURT Carole Ferguson Partner Barrister (Lincoln’s Inn)
Feb 24, 2016
PREPARING EVIDENCE FOR COURT
Carole FergusonPartnerBarrister (Lincoln’s Inn)
Preparing Evidence for Court
[disclaimer]
The Court System In Scotland
• Dependent of case type
• Different rules of evidence
• England & Wales system differs
• Terminology
Court System - Civil
House of Lords
Inner House Court of Session
Outer House Court of Session
Sheriff Principal
Sheriff alone
Court System - Criminal
High Court of Justiciary
Sheriff and Jury (Solemn)
Sheriff Alone (Summary)
Justice of the Peace Court
Court Layout
Burden of Proof
Civil
Balance of Probabilities
Criminal
Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Note: HSE and s.40/ R v. Chargot 2008 HL
Preparing Evidence
Witnesses
1. Statements, Precognitions, and live evidence;
• What information to gather;
• Admissibility of statements; and
• Refreshing memory.
2. What to do once you have the statements…
Witnesses
Productions
1. Productions:• Documents,• Business Records,• Photographs,• Sketches
3. How to Present Productions
2. Labelled Productions:• Real evidence,• Preservation and examination
Rules of Evidence
Disclosure
Witnesses At Court
Oaths/ Affirmations
• “I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
• “I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
How to Give Evidence
Judges/ Juries
Nervousness
Honesty
Lies
Impartiality
Questions ??
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Carole Ferguson E: [email protected]: 07917 848453