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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 2009 - SECT 190 Alibi evidence

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 2009 - SECT 190

Alibi evidence

    (1)     An accused must not, without leave of the court—

        (a)     give evidence personally; or

        (b)     adduce evidence from another witness—

in support of an alibi unless the accused has given notice of alibi within the period referred to in subsection (2).

    (2)     A notice of alibi must be given     by serving the notice on the DPP within 14 days after—

        (a)     the day on which the accused was committed for trial on the charge to which the alibi relates; or

        (b)     if paragraph (a) does not apply, the day on which the accused received a copy of the indictment.

S. 190(3) amended by No. 68/2009 s. 51(zm).

    (3)     A notice of alibi must be served in accordance with section 392.

    (4)     A notice of alibi must contain—

        (a)     particulars as to time and place of the alibi; and

        (b)     the name and last known address of any witness to the alibi; and

        (c)     if the name and address of a witness are not known, any information which might be of material assistance in finding the witness.

    (5)     If the name and address of a witness are not included in a notice of alibi, the accused must not call that person to give evidence in support of the alibi unless the court is satisfied that the accused took reasonable steps to ensure that the name and address would be ascertained.

    (6)     If     the accused is notified by the DPP that a witness named or referred to in a notice of alibi has not been traced, the accused must give written notice to the DPP, without delay, of any further information which might be of material assistance in finding the witness.

    (7)     The court must not refuse leave under subsection (1) if it appears to the court that the accused was not informed of the requirements of this section.

    (8)     If—

        (a)     an accused gives notice of alibi under this section; and

        (b)     the DPP requests an adjournment—

the court must grant an adjournment for a period that appears to the court to be necessary to enable investigation of the alibi unless it appears that to do so would prejudice the proper presentation of the case of the accused.