Law of Evidence

Week 1- Lecture 1

WHAT IS LAW OF EVIDENCE?

● It is a procedural Law
● Set of rules regarding the presentation of material at trial, based on the experience of
the criminal process, issues with the reliability of witnesses, particular type of
evidence etc.
● Judicial directions to the jury
● Consequences at the trial of pre-trial breaches of rights
● Fair Trial regulations
● It aims to compensate certain difficulties in the trial (ex witness testimony which is
subjective and can have a lack of memory, prejudices of triers of fact, ignorance of
suspects, inequality in the system)

REASONS FOR RULES

● Economise time of judges and juries
● Make the issues clear
● Give due notice and chance for hearing
● Make trial itself orderly
● Ensure fairness and equality
● Make sure that Constitutional rights and rights under the ECHR are protected and
respected
● EU Procedural Roadmap Directives - criminal procedure