§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Attorney-General why it is necessary for witnesses in criminal cases to have their addresses made known in open court; and what would be the disadvantage to the conduct of criminal cases if such information was not given in open court.
§ Mr. BrittanI have been asked to reply.
The address of a witness is given in open court for the purposes of identification. In accordance with the general principle that evidence should be given orally. Normally it is considered important that every witness should be identified precisely, in order to demonstrate his credibility and to establish a context for the evidence he will give. But where there is good reason for withholding the address —for example, where there is fear of intimidation—the witness may be permitted by the court to confirm that his address is that shown on the witness statement before the court or to give it in written form.