Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Crimes (Criminal Trials) Act 1999 - SECT 18

Cross-examination

18. Cross-examination



(1) Without limiting any other power that the trial judge has to forbid or
disallow questions, the trial judge may disallow any question asked of a
witness in the course of cross-examination in a trial which appears to the
trial judge-

   (a)  to have no substantial relevance to facts in issue; or

   (b)  to be repetitive of an earlier question; or

   (c)  to be oppressive in the form, or manner, in which it is asked.

(2) If in the opinion of the trial judge, the issue to which a question asked
of a witness in cross-examination is directed is not apparent, the trial judge
may require counsel to specify the issue to which the question is directed and
its relevance to that issue.

(3) Before the trial judge forbids or disallows a question under subsection
(1), the parties may make submissions to the judge as to whether the question
ought be allowed or disallowed.