Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996

Section 68.

[F1SCHEDULE 2E+W Statements and depositions

StatementsE+W

1(1)Sub-paragraph (2) applies if—E+W

(a)a written statement has been admitted in evidence in proceedings before a magistrates’ court inquiring into an offence as examining justices,

(b)in those proceedings a person has been committed for trial,

(c)for the purposes of section 5A of the M1Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 the statement complied with section 5B of that Act prior to the committal for trial,

(d)the statement purports to be signed by a justice of the peace, and

(e)sub-paragraph (3) does not prevent sub-paragraph (2) applying.

(2)Where this sub-paragraph applies the statement may without further proof be read as evidence on the trial of the accused, whether for the offence for which he was committed for trial or for any other offence arising out of the same transaction or set of circumstances.

(3)Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply if—

(a)it is proved that the statement was not signed by the justice by whom it purports to have been signed,

(b)the court of trial at its discretion orders that sub-paragraph (2) shall not apply, or

(c)a party to the proceedings objects to sub-paragraph (2) applying.

(4)If a party to the proceedings objects to sub-paragraph (2) applying the court of trial may order that the objection shall have no effect if the court considers it to be in the interests of justice so to order.

DepositionsE+W

2(1)Sub-paragraph (2) applies if—E+W

(a)in pursuance of section 97A of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 (summons or warrant to have evidence taken as a deposition etc.) a person has had his evidence taken as a deposition for the purposes of proceedings before a magistrates’ court inquiring into an offence as examining justices,

(b)the deposition has been admitted in evidence in those proceedings,

(c)in those proceedings a person has been committed for trial,

(d)for the purposes of section 5A of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 the deposition complied with section 5C of that Act prior to the committal for trial,

(e)the deposition purports to be signed by the justice before whom it purports to have been taken, and

(f)sub-paragraph (3) does not prevent sub-paragraph (2) applying.

(2)Where this sub-paragraph applies the deposition may without further proof be read as evidence on the trial of the accused, whether for the offence for which he was committed for trial or for any other offence arising out of the same transaction or set of circumstances.

(3)Sub-paragraph (2) does not apply if—

(a)it is proved that the deposition was not signed by the justice by whom it purports to have been signed,

(b)the court of trial at its discretion orders that sub-paragraph (2) shall not apply, or

(c)a party to the proceedings objects to sub-paragraph (2) applying.

(4)If a party to the proceedings objects to sub-paragraph (2) applying the court of trial may order that the objection shall have no effect if the court considers it to be in the interests of justice so to order.

SignaturesE+W

3(1)A justice who signs a certificate authenticating one or more relevant statements or depositions shall be treated for the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 as signing the statement or deposition or (as the case may be) each of them.E+W

(2)For this purpose—

(a)a relevant statement is a written statement made by a person for the purposes of proceedings before a magistrates’ court inquiring into an offence as examining justices;

(b)a relevant deposition is a deposition made in pursuance of section 97A of the M2Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 for the purposes of such proceedings.

Time limit for objectionE+W

4E+W[F2Criminal Procedure Rules may] make provision—

(a)requiring an objection under paragraph 1(3)(c) or 2(3)(c) to be made within a period prescribed in the rules;

(b)allowing the court of trial at its discretion to permit such an objection to be made outside any such period.

RetrialE+W

5E+WIn Schedule 2 to the M3Criminal Appeal Act 1968 (procedural and other provisions applicable on order for retrial) in paragraph 1 for the words from “section 13(3)” to “before the original trial” there shall be substituted “ paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2 to the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (use of written statements and depositions) shall not apply to any written statement or deposition read as evidence at the original trial ”.

RepealsE+W

6(1)Section 13(3) of the M4Criminal Justice Act 1925 (which relates to depositions taken before examining justices and is superseded by paragraph 2 above) shall be omitted.E+W

(2)Section 7 of the M5Criminal Justice Act 1967 (which is superseded by paragraph 3 above) shall be omitted.

CommencementE+W

7E+WThis Schedule shall have effect in accordance with provision made by the Secretary of State by order.]