Rape victims will no longer face cross examination in court!

[Destinysdaughter]

I can't quite believe this but according to this article, their testimony will instead be pre recorded and then shown during the trial.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/rape-victims-cross-examination-in-court-videoed-a7637521.http

It could also be true that the defendant did not commit the crime. But no special arrangements are made for him to ease the stress and misery of having to be cross examined.

Truss reported in the Telegraph as saying the recorded evidence the jury sees can be edited allowing Judges to cut out cross examination footage that they consider inappropriate questioning of previous sex history.

That's a positive, stones. Stops a post hoc intervention if a barrister oversteps the mark.

Am I wrong in thinking the idea being discussed in this thread turns out to be a mistake?

(The Times today)
"Liz Truss, the justice secretary and lord chancellor, was subjected to an unprecedented attack by England's most senior judge yesterday for "wrongly" pledging to roll out reforms to spare alleged rape victims cross-examination at trial"

You're not wrong - however I think it is being tried as a pilot scheme. Just in a few courts initially rather than everywhere. I guess it will be reviewed after that.

There are potential logistical problems with it which I think they want to see how it goes first. At least they're trying something to see if it works for rape complainants. Hopefully it will.

Here's an article from the Telegraph:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/22/liz-trusss-announcement-rape-victims-could-give-evidence-video/

It seems like Liz Truss has made a bit of a mess of this. The judge quoted seems really un-keen to use video evidence for sexual assault victims. It looks like it's a long way off, if it ever gets off the ground at all.

Yes, I think the judge said it had only been intended for children.
The judge said:
"Judges had fought for the reforms for the pre-recording od children's evidence brought into effect over some six years. Through the very, very hard work of three judges.....we had actually made the pilot work, and we want to roll it out, carefully. It's quite difficult changing the culture."

He added: "It was a complete failure to understand the practicalities of any of this. And that is the kind of thing that is very troubling."

Thanks Assasinated I have read the article and the letter the judge has written included in it.

It is good to see from the last paragraph of the letter that there are plans to pilot a similar scheme for adults even if it will take a long time.

Oops....Bit of a red face for Truss then?