Noticeboard
| DOI | 10.1177/136571279900300205 |
| Published date | 01 March 1999 |
| Date | 01 March 1999 |
| Subject Matter | Noticeboard |
OTICEBOARD
Notices
should
be
sent
toMike
Redmayne,
Law
Department,
Brunei
University,
Uxbridge,
Middlesex,
UB8
3PH.
Email:
Mike.Redmayne@Brunel.ac.uk
Science
and
law
-
DNA
profiling
-
sociology
of
science
The
journal
Social
Studiesof
Science
has
published
aspecial issue (Nos
5-6,
1998)
on
'Contested Identities: Science, Law
and
Forensic Practice',
edited
by
Michael Lynch
and
Sheila
jasanoff.
The
majority
of
the
papers
address
the
use
and
representation
of
DNA
profiling
in
the
American
legal system,
drawing
on
interviews
with
lawyers, scientists
and
technicians,
as well as
on
issues
arising
from
the
0.]. Simpson trial.
Social
Studiesof
Science
is
published
by Sage
Publications, 6Bonhill St, London EC2A4PU, UK
and
PO Box
5096,
Thousand
Oaks CA
91359,
USA.
Law
reform
-
UK
-
sexual
history
evidence
-
vulnerable
witnesses
The Youth Justice
and
Criminal
Evidence Bill
[HL]
contains
a
number
of
provisions
relating
to
criminal
evidence,
many
based
on
recommendations
contained
in
the
report
of
the
Working
Group
on
Vulnerable
or
Intimidated
Witnesses (see (1998) E&P 2
No.4).
The Bill restricts
the
admissibility
of
evidence
about
the
complainant's
sexual
history
in trials
of
sexual offences.
Such evidence will
only
be
admissible
with
leave
of
the
court
ifit
relates to
an
issue
other
than
consent
(unless
the
evidence
concerns
behaviour
within
24
hours
of
the
offence). An
exception
admits
sexual
history
evidence
where
it is
used
to
challenge
evidence
about
the
complainant's
sexual
behaviour
introduced
by
the
prosecution.
The Bill also
contains
provisions
preventing
defendants
from
conducting
the
cross-examination
of
complainants
in
sexual
offence cases in
person,
along
with
a
discretionary
provision allowing
courts
to
make
rulings
to
similar
effect in non-sexual offence cases.
Chapter
IV
of
the
Bill also
contains
a
number
of
provisions allowing
courts
to
implement
reporting
restrictions.
Other
significant
provisions
relate
to
the
conditions
in
which
all witnesses
under
the
age
of
17,
and
other
vulnerable
witnesses,
can
give evidence. In
certain
circumstances
such
witnesses
would
be allowed to give
their
evidence
by live video link; to have
their
examination
in
chief
and
cross-examination
THE
INTERNATIONAL
JOURNAL
OF
EVIDENCE
&
PROOF
135
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