Malawi

Criminal procedure and evidence code

PART VIII
PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE COMMITTAL OF ACCUSED PERSONS FOR TRIAL BEFORE THE HIGH COURT

269. Evidence and address in defence

(1) Immdiately after complying with the requirements of section 268 relating to the statement or evidence of the accused, and whether the accused has or has not made a statement or given evidence, the court shall ask him whether he desires to call witnesses on his own behalf.

(2) The court shall take the evidence of any witnesses called by the accused in like manner as in the case of witnesses for the prosecution, and every such witness, not being merely a witness to the character of the accused, shall, if the court be of opinion that his evidence is any way material to the case, be bound by bond to appear and give evidence at the trial of such accused.

(3) If the accused states that he has witnesses to call, but that they are not present in court, and the court is satisfied that the absence of such witnesses is not due to any fault or neglect of the accused, and that there is a likelihood that they could, if present, give material evidence on behalf of the accused, the court may adjourn the enquiry and issue process, or take other steps, to compel the attendance of such witnesses and on their attendance shall take their depositions and bind them by bond in the same manner as witnesses under subsection (2)

(4) In any preliminary enquiry under this Part the accused or his legal practitioner shall be at liberty to address the court —

(a) after examination of the witnesses called on behalf of the prosecution ;
(b) if no witnesses for the defence are to be called, immedia- tely after the statement or evidence of the accused ;

(c) if the accused elects—
(i)to give evidence or to make a statement and witnesses for the defence are to be called ; or
(ii) not to give evidence or to make a statement, but to call witnesses, immediately after the evidence of such witnesses.

(5) If the accused or his legal practitioner addresses the court in accordance with subsection (4) (a) or (c) the prosecution shall have the right to reply.

Keywords

Fair trial standards
Rights during trial - examine witnesses
Rights during trial - raise defences



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