Evidence Act 1995

This section applies in a criminal proceeding in which there is a jury.

If the court, on application by the defendant, is satisfied that the defendant has suffered a significant forensic disadvantage because of the consequences of delay, the court must inform the jury of the nature of that disadvantage and the need to take that disadvantage into account when considering the evidence.

The judge need not comply with subsection (2) if there are good reasons for not doing so.

It is not necessary that a particular form of words be used in informing the jury of the nature of the significant forensic disadvantage suffered and the need to take that disadvantage into account, but the judge must not in any way suggest to the jury that it would be dangerous or unsafe to convict the defendant solely because of the delay or the forensic disadvantage suffered because of the consequences of the delay.

The judge must not warn or inform the jury about any forensic disadvantage the defendant may have suffered because of delay except in accordance with this section, but this section does not affect any other power of the judge to give any warning to, or to inform, the jury.

For the purposes of this section:

delay includes delay between the alleged offence and its being reported; and

significant forensic disadvantage is not to be regarded as being established by the mere existence of a delay.