The court considered an appeal where prosecution witnesses who had lived in the same street as the murder. They were given anonymity giving evidence from behind screens, and having their voices modulated.
Held: The anonymisation of witnesses should not be routine. Here however there had been a brutal murder. The witnesses were eye witnesses and would not have given evidence save under anonymity. They needed protection and had properly been given it. Though the trial had taken place before the new Act, an order would have been available under it.
Judges:
Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Openshaw and Judge Gilbert, QC
Citations:
Times 24-Apr-2009, [2009] EWCA Crim 594
Links:
Statutes:
Criminal Evidence (Anonymity of Witnesses) Act 2008 5 11
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Criminal Practice, Crime
Updated: 29 September 2022; Ref: scu.341586
