Opening address of accused
231 Opening address of accused
If the accused intends to give evidence, or to call other witnesses on behalf of the accused, or both, the accused is entitled to give an opening address to the jury outlining the evidence that the accused proposes to give or call.
If the accused gives an opening address, it must be given before the accused gives evidence or calls any other witnesses.
Note to s. 231(2) inserted by No. 6/2017 s. 5.
Note
Section 232A enables the trial judge, with the consent of the prosecution and the accused, to direct that expert witnesses give their evidence concurrently or consecutively. The trial judge may direct that this evidence be given at any stage of the trial, including before the prosecution has closed its case.
The trial judge may limit the length of the opening address of the accused.
The accused is not required to give evidence before any other witness is called on behalf of the accused.
This Act’s bill:Explanatory memorandumSecond reading speech
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