Evidence Regulations 2009

i Evidence Regulations 2009 S.R. No. 162/2009 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Regulation Page 1 Objective 1 2 Authorising provision 1 3 Commencement 1 4 Definitions 1 5 Exceptions to hearsay rule—notice of intention to adduce evidence of previous representations 2 6 Address of person named in notice under regulation 5— criminal proceeding 4 7 The tendency rule and the coincidence rule—form of notices 5 8 Address of person named in notice under regulation 7— criminal proceeding 6 9 Privilege against self-incrimination—form of certificate 7 10 Fingerprint evidence of identity—affidavits by State or Territory police officers 7 11 Fingerprint evidence of identity—affidavits by Australian Federal Police officers 7 12 Convictions, acquittals and other judicial proceedings— form of certificate 7 __________________ SCHEDULE 8 Form 1—Certificate under Section 128 or 128A of the Act 8 Form 2—Affidavit of Member of State or Territory Police Force Concerning Fingerprints 10 Form 3—Affidavit of Member of Australian Federal Police Concerning Fingerprints 11 Form 4—Certificate of Convictions, Acquittals and other Judicial Proceedings 12 ═══════════════ -- 1 of 13 -- 1 STATUTORY RULES 2009 S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Act 2008 Evidence Regulations 2009 The Governor in Council makes the following Regulations: Dated: 8 December 2009 Responsible Minister: ROB HULLS Attorney-General TOBY HALLIGAN Clerk of the Executive Council 1 Objective The objective of these Regulations is to provide for forms and other matters relating to notices, certificates and affidavits under the Evidence Act 2008. 2 Authorising provision These regulations are made under section 197 of the Evidence Act 2008. 3 Commencement These Regulations come into operation on 1 January 2010. 4 Definitions In these Regulations— address includes a private, business or official address; -- 2 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 2 notifying party, in relation to a notice, means the person giving the notice; the Act means the Evidence Act 2008. 5 Exceptions to hearsay rule—notice of intention to adduce evidence of previous representations (1) For the purposes of section 67(1) of the Act, a notice given under that section (notice of previous representation) must state— (a) the substance of evidence of a previous representation that the notifying party intends to adduce; and (b) the substance of all other relevant representations made by the person who made that previous representation, so far as they are known to the notifying party; and (c) particulars of— (i) the date, time and place at and the circumstances in which each of the representations mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) was made; and (ii) the names of the persons by whom, and the persons to whom, each of those representations was made; and (iii) in a civil proceeding, the address of each person named under subparagraph (ii), so far as they are known to the notifying party. (2) If a notifying party intends to rely on— (a) section 63(2)(a) or (b) of the Act; or (b) section 65(2)(a), (b), (c) or (d) of the Act; or r. 5 -- 3 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 3 (c) section 65(3)(a) or (b) of the Act; or (d) section 65(8)(a) or (b) of the Act— the party's notice of previous representation must state particulars of the facts on the basis of which it is alleged that the person who made a representation referred to in the notice is not available to testify concerning the fact to be proved by adducing evidence of that representation. (3) If a notifying party intends to rely on section 64(2)(a) or (b) of the Act, the party's notice of previous representation must state particulars of the facts that the party will rely on to establish the grounds specified in section 64(2) of the Act. (4) If a notice of previous representation refers to a previous representation that is in writing— (a) a copy of the document, or of the relevant portion of the document, containing the representation must be attached to the notice; and (b) the notice must identify the document unless the identity of the document is apparent on the face of the copy attached to the notice. (5) If a copy of a document, or of a portion of a document, is attached to a notice of previous representation it is a sufficient compliance for the purposes of subregulation (1)(a) to specify in the notice, or in the copy of a document or portion of a document attached to the notice, the representation evidence of which the notifying party intends to adduce. r. 5 -- 4 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 4 6 Address of person named in notice under regulation 5—criminal proceeding (1) On the application of a party in a criminal proceeding, the court may make an order directing the notifying party to disclose the address of any person named in a notice given under regulation 5 by whom, or to whom, a representation referred to in the notice was made if the court is satisfied that— (a) the address is relevant to the offence charged; and (b) one of the following applies— (i) disclosure is not likely to present a reasonably ascertainable risk to the welfare or physical safety of any person; or (ii) having regard to the matters referred to in subregulation (2), the interests of justice outweigh any risk referred to in subparagraph (i). (2) For the purposes of subregulation (1)(b)(ii), the court must have regard to— (a) the right to privacy of the witness; and (b) the right of the accused to prepare properly for the trial. Note See section 14 of the Victims' Charter Act 2006 as to victims' privacy. (3) A direction given under subregulation (1) may be given on such terms as the court thinks fit. r. 6 -- 5 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 5 7 The tendency rule and the coincidence rule—form of notices (1) For the purposes of section 99 of the Act, a notice given under section 97(1)(a) of the Act (relating to the tendency rule) must state— (a) the substance of the evidence that the notifying party intends to adduce, and (b) if that evidence consists of, or includes, evidence of the conduct of a person, particulars of— (i) the date, time and place at and the circumstances in which the conduct occurred; and (ii) the name of each person who saw, heard or otherwise perceived the conduct; and (iii) in a civil proceeding, the address of each person named under subparagraph (ii), so far as they are known to the notifying party. (2) For the purposes of section 99 of the Act, a notice given under section 98(1)(a) (relating to the coincidence rule) must state— (a) the substance of the evidence of the occurrence of two or more events that the party giving the notice intends to adduce; and (b) particulars of— (i) the date, time and place at and the circumstances in which each of those events occurred; and (ii) the name of each person who saw, heard or otherwise perceived each of those events; and r. 7 -- 6 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 6 (iii) in a civil proceeding, the address of each person named under subparagraph (ii), so far as they are known to the notifying party. 8 Address of person named in notice under regulation 7—criminal proceeding (1) On the application of a party in a criminal proceeding, the court may make an order directing the notifying party to disclose the address of any person named in a notice given under regulation 7 who saw, heard or otherwise perceived conduct or events referred to in the notice if the court is satisfied that— (a) the address is relevant to the offence charged; and (b) one of the following applies— (i) disclosure is not likely to present a reasonably ascertainable risk to the welfare or physical safety of any person; or (ii) having regard to the matters referred to in subregulation (2), the interests of justice outweigh any risk referred to in subparagraph (i). (2) For the purposes of subregulation (1)(b)(ii), the court must have regard to— (a) the right to privacy of the witness; and (b) the right of the accused to prepare properly for the trial. Note See section 14 of the Victims' Charter Act 2006 as to victims' privacy. r. 8 -- 7 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 7 (3) A direction given under subregulation (1) may be given on such terms as the court thinks fit. 9 Privilege against self-incrimination—form of certificate For the purposes of section 128 or 128A of the Act, a certificate may be in the form set out in Form 1 of the Schedule. 10 Fingerprint evidence of identity—affidavits by State or Territory police officers For the purposes of section 179(1)(a) of the Act, the prescribed form of affidavit is set out in Form 2 of the Schedule. 11 Fingerprint evidence of identity—affidavits by Australian Federal Police officers For the purposes of section 180(1)(a) of the Act, the prescribed form of affidavit is set out in Form 3 of the Schedule. 12 Convictions, acquittals and other judicial proceedings—form of certificate For the purposes of section 178 of the Act, a certificate may be in the form set out in Form 4 of the Schedule. __________________ r. 9 -- 8 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 8 SCHEDULE FORM 1 Regulation 9 CERTIFICATE UNDER SECTION 128 OR 128A OF THE ACT [heading as in originating process] This Court certifies under section 128*/128A* of the Evidence Act 2008 that evidence in these proceedings by [state name of witness] on [state date or dates], a record of which is attached to this certificate, is evidence*/ information* to which section 128(7)*/128A(8)* of that Act applies. A transcript, or other record, of the evidence is to be attached to this certificate, and duly authenticated by the court or its proper officer. Dated: [Signature of Judge or magistrate] * Delete if not applicable Notes Section 128(7) of the Evidence Act 2008 provides as follows: "(7) In any proceeding in a Victorian court or before any person or body authorised by a law of this State, or by consent of parties, to hear, receive and examine evidence— (a) evidence given by a person in respect of which a certificate under this section has been given; and (b) evidence of any information, document or thing obtained as a direct or indirect consequence of the person having given evidence— cannot be used against the person. However, this does not apply to a criminal proceeding in respect of the falsity of the evidence.". Sch. -- 9 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 9 Section 128A(8) of the Evidence Act 2008 provides as follows: "(8) In any proceeding in a Victorian court— (a) evidence of information disclosed by a relevant person in respect of which a certificate has been given under this section; and (b) evidence of any information, document or thing obtained as a direct result or indirect consequence of the relevant person having disclosed that information— cannot be used against the person. However, this does not apply to a criminal proceeding in respect of the falsity of the evidence concerned.". __________________ Sch. -- 10 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 10 FORM 2 Regulation 10 AFFIDAVIT OF MEMBER OF STATE OR TERRITORY POLICE FORCE CONCERNING FINGERPRINTS [heading as in originating process] I, [name of deponent] of [address of deponent], a member of the police force of [State or Territory] make oath and say*/do solemnly and sincerely affirm*: 1. I am a fingerprint expert for the police force of [State or Territory]. 2. I have examined the fingerprint card marked for identification with the letter "A". 3. I have compared the fingerprints shown on that card with the fingerprints shown on the fingerprint card in the records held by the police force of [State or Territory] showing the fingerprints of [name of person and alias, if any]. 4. The fingerprints on those cards are identical. 5. According to the records of the police force of [State or Territory], which I believe to be accurate, [name of person] was convicted in that State*/Territory* of the following offences: [state offences]. 6. Annexed to this affidavit and marked with the letters [insert an alphabetical sequence of letters, commencing at "B", corresponding to the number of annexures], are certified copies or certificates of conviction for each of those convictions. 7. From an examination of the records referred to above, I believe that the person referred to in each annexed certified copy or certificate as having been convicted of the offence stated in it is identical with the person whose fingerprints are shown on the fingerprint cards referred to in paragraph 3 of this affidavit. Sworn, etc. *delete as appropriate __________________ Sch. -- 11 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 11 FORM 3 Regulation 11 AFFIDAVIT OF MEMBER OF AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE CONCERNING FINGERPRINTS [heading as in originating process] I, [name of deponent] of [address of deponent], a member*/special member*/staff member* of the Australian Federal Police, make oath and say*/do solemnly and sincerely affirm*: 1. I am a fingerprint expert for the Australian Federal Police. 2. I have examined the fingerprint card marked for identification with the letter "A". 3. I have compared the fingerprints shown on that card with the fingerprints shown on the fingerprint card in the records held by the Australian Federal Police showing the fingerprints of [name of person and alias, if any]. 4. The fingerprints on those cards are identical. 5. According to the records of the Australian Federal Police, which I believe to be accurate, [name of person] was convicted of the following offences against a law of the Commonwealth: [state offences]. 6. Annexed to this affidavit and marked with the letters [insert an alphabetical sequence of letters, commencing at "B", corresponding to the number of annexures], are certified copies or certificates of conviction for each of those convictions. 7. From an examination of the records referred to above, I believe that the person referred to in each annexed certified copy or certificate as having been convicted of the offence stated in it is identical with the person whose fingerprints are shown on the fingerprint cards referred to in paragraph 3 of this affidavit. Sworn, etc. *delete as appropriate __________________ Sch. -- 12 of 13 -- S.R. No. 162/2009 Evidence Regulations 2009 12 FORM 4 Regulation 12 CERTIFICATE OF CONVICTIONS, ACQUITTALS AND OTHER JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS Section 178 of the Evidence Act 2008 I, [full name] being *a Judge of the Supreme Court; *a Judge of the County Court; a magistrate of the *Magistrates' Court/*Children's Court; *the Prothonotary/*a Deputy Prothonotary of the Supreme Court; *the Registrar/*a Deputy Registrar of the County Court; a Registrar of the *Magistrates'/*Children's Court; *a proper officer (specify title) of the (specify jurisdiction) Court of (specify State or Territory or, if outside Australia, country) certify that, according to the records of the Court: *1. [name of person] on [date] at [venue of Court] was *convicted/*acquitted/ *sentenced. [Set out particulars of record, indictment, conviction, acquittal, sentence; set out time and place of conviction, acquittal or sentence.] *2. [name of person] on [date] *is/*was a party to a proceeding before the Court. [Set out particulars of proceeding, including names of other parties and nature of proceeding.] *3. on [date] at [venue of Court] the following order was made: [Set out particulars of order, names of parties and nature of proceeding; set out time and place at which order was made.] Dated: [Signature of Judge/Magistrate/Prothonotary/Deputy Prothonotary/Registrar/Deputy Registrar/proper officer.] *delete if inapplicable ═══════════════ Sch. -- 13 of 13 --