The Government of The Bahamas

CHAPTER 65 EVIDENCE
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
PART I PRELIMINARY
Short title. 1.
Interpretation. 2.
Evidence admissible under other Acts. 3.
PART II ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE
Evidence Generally
Facts of which evidence may be given. 4.
Evidence against conspirators. 5.
Evidence of course of business. 6.
Evidence or series of acts to show knowledge or intention. 7.
Special rules in case of persons found in possession of stolen goods - evidence of previous conviction. 8.
Evidence of possession of other goods stolen within previous year. 9.
Evidence of intention, motive, etc. 10.
Evidence of historical books, maps, etc. 11.
Power of court to disallow evidence unless shown to be admissible. 12.
Discretion of court as to manner in which evidence may be shown to be admissible. 13.
Evidence of Admissions
Persons whose admissions are admissible in evidence against party. 14.
Admissions made during continuance of state of facts. 15.
Admission made without prejudice. 16.
Admission made under duress. 17.
Admission made with reference to rights or liabilities. 18.
Proof by formal admission in criminal proceedings. 19.
Evidence of Confessions
Admissibility of confessions. 20.
Evidence of confession made under examination, on oath or in judicial proceeding admissible. 21.
Evidence of Opinions
Opinion of experts admissible on subject requiring expert knowledge. 22.
Expert may refer to books or writings. 23.
Opinion of person acquainted with handwriting of another. 24.
What constitutes acquaintance with handwriting. 25.
Admissibility of certain expressions of non expert opinion. 26.
Evidence of reputation admissible in questions of general custom or right. 27.
Evidence of reputation admissible in questions of pedigree. 28.
Evidence of Character
Evidence of character, when admissible in criminal proceedings. 29.
Special rules with reference to previous convictions. 30.
Evidence of good character, when admissible in civil proceedings. 31.
Evidence of bad character, when admissible in civil proceedings. 32.
Evidence tending to impeach character of witness. 33.
Restriction on evidence at trials for rape, etc. 34.
Application of section 34 to preliminary inquiries, court-martial and summary trials. 35.
Evidence of character must be general. 36.
PART III ORAL AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
Oral Evidence - Generally
Oral evidence must be direct. 37.
Hearsay evidence. 38.
Exceptions to rule as to hearsay evidence. 39.
Evidence given under section 39 may be contradicted, corroborated, impeached or confirmed. 40.
Documentary Evidence - Generally
Contents of document, how proved. 41.
Meaning of primary evidence. 42.
Meaning of secondary evidence. 43.
Power of court to order production of documents for purpose of primary evidence. 44.
Where secondary evidence may be given by other persons. 45.
Other cases in which secondary evidence admissible. 46.
Notice to produce must first be given. 47.
Primary evidence shall be given. 48.
Mode of enforcing rule as to primary evidence. 49.
Document required to be attested, how proved. 50.
Proof of handwriting of attesting witness, when sufficient. 51.
Admission by party to document sufficient evidence as against such party. 52.
When other evidence admissible. 53.
Proof of documents not required to be attested. 54.
Proof of signature or handwriting of document. 55.
Signature or writing, how proved. 56.
Prints from films of Government documents. 57.
Oral and Documentary Evidence - Civil Proceedings
Admissibility of out-of-court statements as evidence of facts stated. 58.
Witness's previous statement, if proved, to be evidence of facts stated. 59.
Admissibility of certain records as evidence of facts stated. 60.
Admissibility of statements produced by computers. 61.
Provisions supplementary to sections 58 to 61. 62.
Admissibility of evidence as to credibility of maker, etc., of statement admitted under section 58 or section 60. 63.
Rules of court. 64.
Application of sections 58 to 60 and 62 to 64 to statements of opinion. 65.
Documentary Evidence - Criminal Proceedings
Evidence from documentary records. 66.
Evidence from computer records. 67.
Provisions supplementary to sections 66 and 67. 68.
Exclusion of Oral by Documentary Evidence
Oral evidence inadmissible of contents or terms of official proceeding, contract, etc., required to be in writing and reduced to writing. 69.
Oral evidence inadmissible to vary terms of contract, etc., reduced to writing. 70.
Exclusion of evidence to explain or amend ambiguous document. 71.
Exclusion of evidence against application of document to existing facts. 72.
Evidence as to document unmeaning in reference to existing facts. 73.
Evidence as to application of language which can apply to one only of several persons. 74.
Evidence as to application of language to one of two sets of facts. 75.
Evidence as to meaning of illegible characters, etc. 76.
Evidence may be given of agreement varying terms of document. 77.
Construction of wills. 78.
PART IV JUDICIAL NOTICE, BURDEN OF PROOF AND PRESUMPTIONS
Judicial Notice
Judicial notice. 79.
Facts of which judicial notice taken. 80.
Facts admitted need not be proved. 81.
The Burden of Proof
Burden of proof. 82.
General rule as to burden of proof at commencement of proceeding. 83.
Burden of proof of particular fact. 84.
Burden of proof of fact necessary to enable other facts to be proved. 85.
Burden of negativing exception in criminal statute. 86.
Burden of proof of continuance of certain relationship. 87.
Burden of proof of ownership 88.
Burden of proof between person in relationship of confidence. 89.
General Presumptions
Presumption of regularity of official and judicial acts. 90.
Presumption of guilt of person found in possession of property recently stolen. 91.
Presumption of the continuance of life. 92.
Presumption of death where person not heard of for seven years. 93.
Presumption of marriage from cohabitation. 94.
Presumption of validity of marriage shown have been celebrated 95.
Presumption of legitimacy of offspring. 96.
Where presumptions conflicting, question of fact for court. 97.
Presumptions as to Documents
Presumption of authenticity of document admissible in evidence on proof that certain prescribed conditions are complied with. 98.
Presumption of authenticity of judicial record purporting to be signed by judge or magistrate. 99.
Presumption of genuineness of certain documents. 100.
Presumption of genuineness of book containing laws or reports of judicial decisions. 101.
Presumption of authenticity of power of attorney. 102.
Presumption as to authorship and date of books, maps, etc. 103.
Presumption of accuracy of telegraphic message. 104.
Presumption as to validity of document called for and not produced. 105.
Presumption of genuineness and validity of document 30 years old produced from proper custody. 106.
Meaning of proper custody. 107.
Presumption as to date and order of execution of documents. 108.
Presumption as to execution of deed. 109.
Presumption as to alterations and interlineations of documents. 110.
Position of person producing document appearing to be altered in material particular. 111.
PART V PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
Public documents. 112.
Meaning of certified copy. 113.
Duty of custodian of public documents to furnish certified copy. 114.
Special methods of proving certain public documents. 115.
Previous convictions, how proved. 116.
PART VI JUDGMENTS
Meaning of judgment. 117.
Effect of judgment. 118.
Effect in evidence of judgment of court in exercise of probate, matrimonial, admiralty or bankruptcy jurisdiction. 119.
Judgment conclusive proof of facts therein stated in favour of court delivering it. 120.
Judgment conclusive as to issues decided between parties. 121.
Proof by party against whom any judgment is offered in evidence. 122.
Convictions as evidence in civil proceedings. 123.
Findings of adultery and paternity as evidence in civil proceedings. 124.
Conclusiveness of convictions for purposes of defamation actions. 125.
PART VII JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
Oaths and Affirmations
All evidence to be given on oath. 126.
Court to administer oath. 127.
Form of oath to be administered. 128.
Solemn affirmation permitted. 129.
Competency of Witnesses
Who may testify. 130.
Dumb witnesses. 131.
Privileges of Witnesses as to Certain Questions
Judges and magistrates. 132.
Official communications. 133.
Information as to commission of offences. 134.
Professional communications. 135.
Confidential communications with legal advisers. 136.
Communications during marriage. 137.
Witness not compelled to answer certain questions. 138.
Number of Witnesses
Corroboration of evidence in actions for breach of promise of marriage. 139.
Number of witnesses or corroboration in trial for perjury. 140.
Savings. 141.
Examination and Cross-Examination of Witnesses
Types of examination. 142.
Order of examination. 143.
Examination and cross-examination. 144.
Re-examination. 145.
Re-calling of witnesses. 146.
Cross-examination as to previous statements in writing. 147.
Questioning a witness as to conviction of an offence. 148.
Questions lawful in cross-examination. 149.
When a witness may be contradicted. 150.
Adverse witness. 151.
Impeaching credit of witness. 152.
Person called to produce document. 153.
Leading Questions
Leading questions. 154.
When leading questions shall not be asked. 155.
When court may permit leading questions to be asked. 156.
When leading questions may be asked. 157.
When court may prohibit leading questions. 158.
Refreshing Memory
When witness may use own writing. 159.
When witness may use another's writing. 160.
When witness may use copy of document. 161.
Experts may refer to treatises. 162.
Rights of adverse party. 163.
Production of Documents
Document called for and produced on notice. 164.
Document called for and refused on notice. 165.
Production of document. 166.
Court may inspect document. 167.
General Powers of the Court
Court's power to put questions. 168.
Power of court to compel person present in court to give evidence. 169.
Power of court to inspect. 170.
PART VIII EVIDENCE BY PERSONS CHARGED WITH OFFENCES AND THEIR HUSBANDS OR WIVES
Competency of witnesses in criminal cases. 171.
Cross-examination of a person charged and called as a witness. 172.
Time for taking accused person's evidence. 173.
Right of reply. 174.
Calling of husband or wife in certain cases. 175.
Calling of husband or wife on trial of civil right. 176.
PART IX MISCELLANEOUS
Banker's book. 177.
Exclusion of unfair evidence. 178.
CHAPTER 65
EVIDENCE
An Act to consolidate with amendments certain written laws relating to the law of evidence and for connected purpose.	4 of 1996 14 of 2000 42 of 2000
[Assent 4th March, 1996] [Commencement 1st June, 1996]
PART I PRELIMINARY
1. This Act may be cited as the Evidence Act, 1996.	Short title.
2. In this Act-	Interpretation.
"admission" means any statement relative to any fact in issue tending to the prejudice of the person making it with reference to such fact, or to the prejudice of some person who is responsible for his statement;
"computer" has the meaning assigned to it by subsection (6) of section 61;
"confession" has the meaning assigned to it by subsection (5) of section 20;
"court" includes all Justices of the Supreme Court and all magistrates and all persons having by law or by the consent of parties authority to take evidence;
"document" includes, in addition to a document in writing-
(a) any map, plan, graph or drawing;
(b) any photograph;
(c) any disc, tape, sound track or other device in which sounds or other data (not being visual images) are embodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced therefrom; and
(d) any film, negative, tape or other device in which one or more visual images are embodied so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced therefrom;
"fact in issue" means any fact as to which in the course of any proceeding it becomes material for the court to enquire, in order to ascertain the respective rights and liabilities of the parties or for any purpose incidental thereto;
"film" has the meaning assigned to it by subsection (6) of section 57.
3. Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to render inadmissible any evidence which is admissible under any other Act.	Evidence admissible under other Acts.
PART II ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE
Evidence Generally
4. In any proceeding evidence may be given of facts relevant to any fact in issue, including-	Facts of which evidence may be given.
(a) any fact which is so closely connected with any fact in issue as to form in the opinion of the court part of the same transaction, whether it occurred at the same time and place or at some different time and place;
(b) any fact which is the occasion, cause or effect, immediate or otherwise of any fact in issue;
(c) any fact which explains the circumstances under which any fact in issue is said to have happened, or which afforded an opportunity for its occurrence, or which fixes or helps to fix the time or place of its occurrence;
(d) any fact which is consistent or inconsistent with any fact in issue or which supports, rebuts, qualifies or explains an inference suggested by any fact in issue;
(e) any fact which shows or constitutes a motive or preparation for any fact in issue;
(f) any fact or thing tending to identify any person or thing whose identity is a fact in issue;
(g) any fact may assist the court or the jury in assessing the damages or penalty in cases in which such assessment is necessary.
5. Where there is evidence from which an inference can be drawn that two or more persons have conspired together to commit an offence or an actionable wrong, evidence may be given against each of the persons of anything said, done or written by any one of them in the execution or furtherance of their common purpose.	Evidence against conspirators.
6. Where there is a question whether a particular act was done, the doing or existence of which is relevant to a fact in issue evidence may be given of the existence of any course of business according to which it naturally might or would have been done.	Evidence of course of business.
7. (1) This section applies in relation to evidence in a criminal proceeding adduced by the prosecutor.	Evidence of series of acts to show knowledge or intention.
(2) Evidence that the accused person did or could have done an act or had or could have had a particular state of mind, being an act or state of mind that is similar to an act or state of mind the doing or existence of which is a fact in issue, is not admissible unless-
(a) the existence of that fact in issue is substantially in dispute in the proceeding; and
(b) the evidence has substantial probative value.
(3) In determining whether the evidence has substantial probative value, the matters that the court shall have regard to include-
(a) the nature and extent of the similarity;
(b) the extent to which the act or state of mind to which the evidence relates is unusual;
(c) in the case of evidence of a state of mind, the extent to which the state of mind is unusual or occurs infrequently; and
(d) in the case of evidence of an act-
(i) the likelihood that the accused person would have repeated the act;
(ii) the number of times on which similar acts have been done; and
(iii) the period that has elapsed between the time when the act was done and the time when the accused person is alleged to have done the act that the evidence is adduced to prove.
8. (1) Where any person who has been previously convicted of any offence involving fraud or dishonesty, is found in the possession of stolen goods, evidence of such previous conviction shall be admissible as evidence of his knowledge that such goods have been stolen, and in any proceedings that may be taken against him as receiver of stolen goods, or otherwise, in relation to his having been found in possession of such goods, proof may be given of his previous conviction before evidence is given of his having been found in possession of such stolen goods.	Special rules in case of persons found in possession of stolen goods - evidence of previous conviction.
(2) Not less than seven days' notice shall be given to such person that proof is intended to be given of his previous conviction.
9. Where proceedings are taken against any person for having in his possession stolen goods, evidence may be given that there were found in the possession of such person other goods stolen within the preceding period of twelve months, and such evidence may be taken into consideration for the purpose of proving that such person knew that the goods which form the subject of the proceedings against him, had been stolen.	Evidence of possession of other goods stolen within previous year.
10. Where the court has to enquire as to the existence of any intention, motive, state of feeling or state of mind of any person, evidence may not be given to show that such intention, motive, state of feeling, or state of mind existed generally but only that it existed with reference to the matter in question.	Evidence of intention, motive, etc.
11. Evidence may be given of historical books and records and contents of maps or charts generally offered for public sale or prepared under the authority of Government with reference to matters of general information therein contained.	Evidence of historical books, maps, etc.
12. (1) When either party proposes to give evidence of any fact, the court may ask the party proposing to give evidence, in what manner the alleged fact, if proved, would be relevant to the fact in issue before the court and the court shall admit the evidence if it thinks that the fact, if proved, would be so relevant, and not otherwise.	Power of court to disallow evidence unless shown to be admissible.
(2) Any fact of which evidence is admissible under the provisions of this Act shall be deemed to be relevant to the fact in issue before the court.
13. If the admissibility in evidence of one alleged fact depends upon another alleged fact being first proved the court may, in its discretion, either permit evidence of the first fact to be given before the second fact is proved, or require evidence to be given of the second fact before evidence is given of the first fact.	Discretion of court as to manner in which evidence may be shown to be admissible.
Evidence of Admissions
14. Evidence may be given against any party to a civil proceeding of any admission-	Persons whose admissions are admissible in evidence against party.
(a) by such party;
(b) by any person who in the opinion of the court is in the circumstances of the case expressly or impliedly authorised to make such admission on behalf of such party;
(c) by any person who though not nominally a party to the proceeding, is for the purpose of the proceeding to be regarded as identified in interest with such party;
(d) by any person jointly interested with such party in the subject matter of the proceeding;
(e) by any person who with reference to the subject matter of the proceeding is privy in estate, blood, representation or law to such party;
(f) by any person to whom such party has expressly referred the other party for information with reference to the matter in dispute.
15. (1) No evidence shall be given of any admission made by a party suing or sued as a trustee, executor, guardian, agent or in any other representative capacity unless the said admission was made while such party held such representative capacity.	Admissions made during continuance of state of facts.
(2) No evidence shall be given of any admission made by a person interested in the proceeding, or by a privy to any party thereto unless it was made during the continuance of such interest or privity.	Admissions made during continuance of state of facts.
16. No evidence shall be given in any civil proceeding of any admission which was made upon an express condition that it should be without prejudice to the rights of the party making it, or in circumstances from which the court can infer that the parties agreed together that evidence should not be given.	Admission made without prejudice.
17. No evidence shall be given of any admission which was made under duress.	Admission made under duress.
18. Where the question at issue is the respective rights and liabilities of a party and some person who is not a party to the suit, evidence may be given against any such party of any admission by such other person with reference to such rights or liabilities:	Admission made with reference to rights or liabilities.
Provided that such admission was made during the continuance of such rights or liabilities.	Admission made with reference to rights or liabilities.
19. (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any fact of which oral evidence may be given in any criminal proceedings may be admitted for the purpose of those proceedings by or on behalf of the prosecutor or the accused person, and the admission by any party of any such fact under this section shall as against that party be conclusive evidence in those proceedings of the fact admitted.	Proof by formal admission in criminal proceedings.
(2) An admission under this section-
(a) may be made before or at the proceedings;
(b) if made otherwise than in court shall be in writing;
(c) if made in writing by an individual, shall purport to be signed by the person making it and, if so made by a body corporate, shall purport to be signed by a director or manager, or the secretary or clerk, or some other similar officer of the body corporate;
(d) if made on behalf of an accused person who is an individual, shall be made by his counsel and attorney;
(e) if made at any stage before the trial by an accused person who is an individual, must be approved by his counsel and attorney (whether at the time it was made or subsequently) before or at the proceedings in question.
(3) An admission under this section for the purpose of proceedings relating to any matter shall be treated as an admission for the purpose of any subsequent criminal proceedings relating to that matter (including any appeal or retrial).
(4) An admission under this section may with the leave of the court be withdrawn in the proceedings for the purpose of which it is made or any subsequent criminal proceedings relating to the same matter.
Evidence of Confessions
20. (1) In any proceedings a confession made by an accused person may be given in evidence against him in so far as it is relevant to any fact in issue in the proceedings and is not excluded by the court in pursuance of this section.	Admissibility of confessions.
(2) If, in any proceedings where the prosecution proposes to give in evidence a confession made by an accused person, it is represented to the court that the confession-
(a) was or may have been obtained by oppression of the person who made it; or
(b) is rendered unreliable by reason of anything said or done or omitted to be said or done in the circumstances existing at the time, the court shall not allow the confession to be given in evidence against him except in so far as the prosecution proves to the court beyond reasonable doubt that the confession (notwithstanding that it may be true) was not obtained as aforesaid.
(3) In any proceedings where the prosecution proposes to give in evidence a confession made by an accused person, the court may of its own motion require the prosecution, as a condition of allowing it to do so, to prove that the confession was not obtained as mentioned in subsection (2).
(4) The fact that a confession is wholly or partly excluded in pursuance of this section shall not affect the admissibility in evidence of any facts discovered as a result of the confession and of so much of the confession as relates thereto.
(5) In this Act-
"confession" includes any statement wholly or partly adverse to the person who made it, whether made to a person in authority or not and whether made in words or otherwise;
"oppression" includes torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the use of threat of violence (whether or not amounting to torture).
21. (1) Subject to subsection (2) and to any other law to the contrary, it shall be no objection to the admissibility in evidence of a confession that it was made by a person under examination, on oath or in a judicial proceeding.	Evidence of confession made under examination, on oath or in judicial proceeding admissible.
(2) If in the course of such examination he shall have refused to answer any question and shall have been improperly compelled to do so, evidence shall not be given of the answer to such question.
Evidence of Opinions
22. Where the court has to form an opinion on the identity or genuineness of handwriting, or upon a point of foreign law, or of science, art, trade, manufacture or any other subject requiring special skill or knowledge, evidence may be given of the opinion of persons who in the opinion of the court are experts in such subjects and of any facts which support or are inconsistent with such opinions.	Opinion of experts admissible on subject requiring expert knowledge.
23. Evidence may not be given in such cases of the contents of books or writings, but an expert in giving his opinion may refer to books or writings and the court may consider and construe such books and writings in conjunction with his evidence.	Expert may refer to books or writings.
24. Where the court has to form an opinion as to the person by whom any document was written or signed, evidence may be given of the opinion of any person acquainted with the handwriting of the person by whom it is alleged to be written or signed.	Opinion of person acquainted with handwriting of another.
25. A person shall be deemed to be acquainted with the handwriting of another person when he has seen that person write, or when he has received documents purporting to be written by that person in answer to documents written by himself or under his authority and addressed to that person, or when in the ordinary course of business, documents purporting to be written by that person have been habitually submitted to him.	What constitutes acquaintance with handwriting.
26. (1) Where a person is called as a witness in any civil proceedings, a statement of opinion by him on any relevant matter on which he is not qualified to give expert evidence, if made as a way of conveying relevant facts personally perceived by him, is admissible as evidence of what he perceived.	Admissibility of certain expressions of non expert opinion.
(2) In this section "relevant matter" includes an issue in the proceedings in question.	Admissibility of certain expressions of non expert opinion.
27. Where the court has to form an opinion as to the existence of any general custom or right, evidence may be given of general reputation with reference to such custom or right among persons who would be likely to know of its existence.	Evidence of reputation admissible in questions of general custom or right.
28. When the court has to form an opinion as to the relationship of one person to another, evidence may be giver of general reputation with reference to such relationship among persons who would be likely to know of its existence.	Evidence of reputation admissible in questions of pedigree.
Evidence of Character	Evidence of reputation admissible in questions of pedigree.
29. In criminal proceedings evidence may be given of the good character of the accused person, but evidence may not be given of his bad character, unless and with leave of the court witnesses have been called or questions have been asked to show that he bears a good character.	Evidence of character, when admissible in criminal proceedings.
30. In the following cases, that is to say-	Special rules with reference to previous convictions.
(a) where a person is on trial for a felony not punishable with death, who has been previously convicted of any felony;
(b) where a person is on trial for stealing, or for any offence declared to be punishable as stealing or for false pretences of for receiving stolen property, or for any other offence involving fraud, who has been previously convicted of any felony, misdemeanour or offence punishable upon summary conviction;
(c) where a person is on trial for any offence relating to the coinage who has been previously convicted of any such offence,
if the accused person calls witnesses or asks questions to show that he bears a good character, with leave of the Court evidence may be given of such previous conviction or convictions.
31. In civil proceedings evidence may not be given that a person bears a good character in any respect unless-	Evidence of good character, when admissible in civil proceedings.
(a) the character of such person in such respect is a fact in issue;
(b) evidence has already been given to show that such person bears a bad character in such respect.
32. In civil proceedings evidence may not be given that a person bears a bad character in any respect unless-	Evidence of bad character, when admissible in civil proceedings.
(a) the character of such person in such respect is a fact in issue;
(b) damages are claimed for any wrong done to or in connection with such person and the evidence is tendered with a view to the reduction of such damages.
33. Evidence may be given in both civil and criminal proceedings of the bad character of any person called as a witness in order to impeach his credit as a witness.	Evidence tending to impeach character of witness.
34. (1) If at a trial any person is for the time being charged with a rape offence to which he pleads not guilty, then, except with the leave of the court, no evidence shall be adduced nor shall any question be asked at the trial, by or on behalf of any accused person about any sexual experience of a complainant with a person other than that accused person.	Restriction on evidence at trials for rape, etc.
(2) The court shall not give leave in pursuance of subsection (1) for any evidence or question except on an application made to it in the absence of the jury by or on behalf of an accused person; and on such an application the court shall give leave if, and only if, it is satisfied that it would be unfair to that accused person to refuse to allow the evidence to be adduced or the question to be asked.
(3) In subsection (1) "complainant" means a person upon whom, in a charge of a rape offence to which the trial in question relates, it is alleged that a rape offence was committed, attempted or proposed.
(4) Nothing in this section shall authorise evidence to be adduced or a question to be asked which cannot be adduced or asked apart from this section.
35. (1) Where a magistrates' court is conducting a preliminary inquiry into a rape offence, then, except with leave of the court, evidence shall not be adduced and a question shall not be asked at the inquiry which, if the inquiry were a trial at which a person is charged as mentioned in subsection (1) of section 34 and the accused person at the inquiry were charged at the trial with the offences of which he is accused at the inquiry, could not be adduced or asked without leave in pursuance of that section.	Application of section 34 to preliminary inquiries, court-martial and summary trials.
(2) On an application for leave in pursuance of subsection (1) for any evidence or question the court shall-
(a) refuse leave unless the court is satisfied that leave in respect of the evidence or question would be likely to be given at a relevant trial; and
(b) give leave if the court is so satisfied.
(3) Where a person charged with a rape offence is tried for that offence, either by court-martial or summarily before a magistrate's court or a juvenile court, section 34 shall have effect in relation to the trial as if the words "in the absence of the jury" in subsection (2) were omitted.
(4) In this section and in section 34 "rape offence" means any offence under sections 6 and 10 to 12 of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, 1991 any attempt to commit any such offence, and any offence constituted pursuant to section 85 of the Penal Code in relation to, and any attempt to commit, an offence under any of those sections.
36. Subject to section 34, evidence of character shall be confined to general reputation only, and shall not relate to particular acts of good or bad conduct.	Evidence of character must be general.
PART III ORAL AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
Oral Evidence - Generally
37. Oral evidence shall, in all cases whatever, be direct, that is to say-	Oral evidence must be direct.
(a) if it refers to a fact which could be seen, it must be the evidence of a witness who says he saw the fact;
(b) if it refers to a fact which could be heard, it must be the evidence of a witness who says he heard the fact;
(c) if it refers to a fact which could be perceived by any other sense or in any other manner, it must be the evidence of a witness who says he perceived that fact by that sense or in any other manner;
(d) if it refers to an opinion, or to the grounds on which that opinion is held, it must be the evidence of the person who holds that opinion on those grounds.
38. When a fact is proved by evidence-	Hearsay evidence.
(a) that a statement as to the fact was made by any person;
(b) that a statement as to the fact is contained or recorded in any book, document or other record,
the fact is said to be proved by hearsay evidence.
39. (1) Subject to subsection (2) and to this Act, hearsay evidence shall not be admitted in evidence.	Exceptions to rule as to hearsay evidence.
(2) Hearsay evidence may be admitted-
(a) where the statement is a necessary part of any fact or transaction which is being investigated by the court;
(b) where the knowledge, intention, motive, state of feeling, state of mind or state of body of any person is a fact in issue and the statement proves or disproves the said knowledge, intention, motive, state of feeling, state of mind or state of body;
(c) where the statement is an admission or confession made by or to the prejudice of the party against whom it is sought to be proved but subject to the provisions of sections 14 to 19;
(d) where the statement was made in the presence and in the hearing of the person against whom the evidence is tendered, and where such person had an opportunity of replying to such statement;
(e) where the statement is contained in any official record, book or register, kept for the information of the Crown or for public reference and was made as the result of inquiry by a public servant in discharge of a duty enjoined by the law of the country in which such official record, book or register is kept;
(f) where the statement was made by a person since dead as to the cause of his death or as to any of the circumstances of the transaction resulting in his death in cases in which the person's death is the subject of a criminal charge:
Provided-
(i) that the person at the time he made the statement was in actual danger of death and in the expectation of death, and
(ii) that the statement was of such a nature that it could have been given in evidence in legal proceedings if the person making it had survived;
(g) where the statement was made by a person, since dead, in the ordinary course of business, in discharge of a duty incumbent upon such person for the purpose of recording or reporting something which it was the duty of the person to perform, at or near the time when the matter stated occurred and of his own knowledge:
Provided that evidence of such statement shall not be admitted in order to prove any fact mentioned therein which it was not the duty of the person making it to embody in such statement;
(h) (i) where the statement was made by a person since dead, whether by himself or by some person shown to be duly authorised in that behalf, and was made against his pecuniary or proprietary interest at the time he made it, and related to the circumstances of which he had special knowledge:
Provided that the person making it had no interest to misrepresent the matter stated,
(ii) a statement charging a person with a liability in one part of it is a statement against his pecuniary or proprietary interest even though in another part, it may discharge him from such liability;
(i) where the statement was made by a person, since dead, and gives the opinion of such person as to the existence of any public right or custom, or matter of public or general interest, of the existence of which, if it existed, he would have been likely to be aware, and when the statement was made before any controversy as to the right, custom or matter, had arisen:
where the statement is tendered in proceedings in which the existence of any relationship of blood or marriage is a fact in issue and where the statement related to the existence of the relationship and is made by a person since dead and shown to the satisfaction of the court to himself related by blood by blood or marriage to the parties thereto:
Provided that the statement was made before the question in dispute had arisen;
(k) where the statement was made by a deceased testator, whether before or after the making of his will, as to his testamentary intentions or as to the contents of his will-
(i) when the will has been lost and there is a question as to what were its contents,
(ii) when the question is whether an existing will is genuine or was improperly obtained,
(iii) when the question is whether any and which of more existing documents than one constitute the will;
(l) where the statement consists of evidence given by a witness in any previous civil proceeding, or in a previous stage of the same civil proceedings when the witness is dead, has become insane, is so ill that he will probably never be able to travel, or is out of the jurisdiction of the court:
Provided-
(i) that the person against whom the evidence is tendered had the right and the opportunity to cross-examine the person giving the evidence,
(ii) that the proceeding was between the same parties or their representatives in interest,
(iii) that the questions at issue are substantially the same;
(m) where in a criminal trial the statement consists of a deposition taken before a magistrate and all the necessary provisions of sections 129 to 133 inclusive of the Criminal Procedure Code Act have been complied with.
40. Whenever any statement admissible under section 39 is proved, all matters may be proved, either in order to contradict or to corroborate it, or in order to impeach or confirm the credit of the person by whom it was made, which might have been proved if that person had been called as a witness and had denied upon cross-examination the truth of the matter suggested.	Evidence given under section 39 may be contradicted, corroborated, impeached or confirmed.
Documentary Evidence - Generally
41. The contents of documents may be proved either by primary or by secondary evidence.	Contents of document, how proved.
42. Primary evidence means the document itself produced for the inspection of the court-	Meaning of primary evidence.
(a) where a document is executed in several parts, each part is primary evidence of the document;
(b) where a document is executed in counterpart, each counterpart being executed by one or some of the parties only, each counterpart is primary evidence as against the parties executing it;
(c) where a number of documents are all made by printing, lithography, photography or other uniform process, each is primary evidence of the contents of the rest; but where they are all copies of a common original they are not primary evidence of the contents of the original.
43. Secondary evidence includes-	Meaning of secondary evidence.
(a) certified copies given under the provisions hereinafter contained;
(b) copies made from the original by mechanical processes which ensure accuracy of the copy, and copies compared with such copies;
(c) copies made from or compared with the original;
(d) counterparts of documents as against the parties who did not execute them;
(e) oral accounts of the contents of a document given by some person who has himself seen it.
44. The court may order any person summoned before it in the course of any proceeding to produce for the purpose of primary evidence any document in his possession or power, except in the following cases-	Power of court to order production of documents for purpose of primary evidence.
(a) where the document is a document of title and the title of the person may be affected by the production of it;
(b) where the production of the document may tend to expose the person producing it or the husband or wife of such person to a criminal charge or to any penalty or forfeiture;
(c) where he holds the documents as mortgagee or pledgee;
(d) where he holds a lien on the document as against the person claiming its production;
(e) where he holds the document under the authority of some person entitled to refuse its production, and such person has refused to allow it to be produced;
(f) where the document is a communication made by a wife to her husband, or by a husband to his wife during the continuance of their marriage.
45. Where a person has been subpoenaed to produce a document, or being called as a witness has been asked to produce a document and has objected to do so on one of the grounds in section 44 and his objection has been upheld by the court, secondary evidence may be given of its existence, conditions or contents by another person except in cases falling under paragraph (f), but the person whose objection has been so upheld by the court shall not be asked any questions as to the contents of the document.	Where secondary evidence may be given by other persons.
46. (1) Secondary evidence may also be given of the existence, conditions or contents of a document admissible in evidence in the following cases-	Other cases in which secondary evidence admissible.
(a) where the original is shown or appears to be in the possession or power of the person against whom the document is sought to be proved, and when after the notice mentioned in section 47 he does not produce it;
(b) when the existence, condition or contents of the original have been proved to be admitted by the person against whom it is sought to be proved or by his representative in interest;
(c) when there is satisfactory evidence that the original has been lost or destroyed or when after proper search there is reasonable ground for believing that the original has been lost or destroyed;
(d) when the original is of such a nature as not to be easily movable, or is in a country or place from which its removal is not by law permissible;
(e) when the original is a public document within the meaning of section 112;
(f) when the original is a document of which a certified copy is permitted by this or by any other Act to be given in evidence;
(g) when the original consists of numerous accounts or other documents which cannot conveniently be examined in court and the fact to be proved is the general result of the whole collection.
(2) In cases falling under paragraph (a), (c) or (d) of subsection (1) any secondary evidence of the contents of the document is admissible.
(3) In cases falling under paragraph (e) or (f) of subsection (1) a certified copy of the document but no other kind of secondary evidence is admissible.
(4) In cases falling under paragraph (g) of subsection (1) evidence may be given as to the general result of the documents by any person who has examined them and who is skilled in the examination of such documents.
47. (1) Secondary evidence of the contents of the documents referred to in paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 46 shall not be given unless the party proposing to give the secondary evidence has previously given to the party in whose possession or power the document is, or his attorney, such notice to produce it as the court considers reasonable in the circumstances of the case.	Notice to produce must first be given.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), notice shall not be required in order to render secondary evidence admissible in any of the following cases-
(a) when the document to be proved is itself a notice;
(b) when from the nature of the case the adverse party must know that he will be required to produce it;
(c) when it appears or is proved that the adverse party has obtained possession of the original by fraud or force;
(d) when the adverse party or his agent has the original in court; or
(e) when the adverse party or his agent has admitted the loss of the document.
48. Subject to this Act, the existence, condition, or contents of a document shall be proved by primary evidence.	Primary evidence shall be given.
49. Any witness may be asked whilst under examination whether any contract, grant or other disposition of property, as to which he is giving evidence, was not contained in a document, and if he says that it was, or if he is about to make any statement as to the contents of any document which, in the opinion of the court, ought to be produced, the adverse party may object to such evidence being given until such document is produced, or until facts have been proved which entitled the party who called the witness to give secondary evidence of it.	Mode of enforcing rule as to primary evidence.
50. If a document is required by law to be attested, it shall not be used as evidence until one attesting witness at least has been called for the purpose of proving its execution, if there be an attesting witness alive, and subject to the jurisdiction of the court and capable of giving evidence, but the calling of an attesting witness shall not be excused on the ground that the document has been lost or destroyed.	Document required to be attested, how proved.
51. If no such attesting witness can be found or if the document purports to have been executed in a Commonwealth country, it must be proved that the attestation of one attesting witness at least is in his handwriting, and that the signature of the person executing the document is in the handwriting of that person.	Proof of handwriting of attesting witness, when sufficent.
52. The admission of a party to an attested document of its execution by himself shall be sufficient proof of its execution as against him though it be a document required by law to be attested.	Admission by party to document sufficient evidence as against such party.
53. If the attesting witness denies or does not recollect the execution of the document its execution may be proved by other evidence.	When other evidence admissible.
54. An attested document not required by law to be attested may be proved as if it were unattested.	Proof of documents not required to be attested.
55. If a document is alleged to be signed or to have been written wholly or in part by any person, the signature or the handwriting of so much of the document as is alleged to be in that person's handwriting must be proved to being his handwriting.	Proof of signature or handwriting of document.
56. (1) In order to ascertain whether any signature or writing is that of the person by whom it purports to have been written any signature or writing, admitted or proved to the satisfaction of the court to have been written by that person, may be compared by a witness, or by the court, or the jury, with the one which is to be proved, although that signature or writing has not been produced or proved for any other purpose.	Signature or writing, how proved.
(2) The court may direct any person present in court to write any words or figures for the purpose of enabling the court to compare the words or figures so written with any words or figures alleged to have been written by that person.	Signature or writing, how proved.
57. (1) A print whether enlarged or not purporting to be made from a film of a document in the possession of the Government or an authorised person shall notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act or any other law, be admitted in evidence in any proceedings before a court or tribunal as evidence of the contents of that document upon proof that-	Prints from films of Government documents.
(a) while the document was in the custody or control of the Government or authorised person the film was taken in order to keep a permanent record thereof; and
(b) the document photographed-
(i) was subsequently destroyed, whether deliberately or otherwise, or
(ii) was so damaged as to be wholly or partially indecipherable;
(c) was lost; or
(d) has passed out of the custody or control of the Government or authorised person.
(2) Proof-
(a) that a print was made from a film of a document in the possession of the Government or an authorised person; and
(b) of compliance with the conditions in subsection (1),
may be given in respect of any document or group of documents by a public officer having responsibility for the film of the document, or an employee of the authorised person having similar responsibility, as the case may be, orally or by a certificate purporting to be signed by such public officer, employee or person.
(3) A certificate under subsection (2) shall be admitted in evidence in any proceedings before a court or tribunal on its production without further proof.
(4) On the production of a certificate under subsection (3) the court or tribunal before which it is produced, shall, until the contrary is proved, presume-
(a) that the facts stated in the certificate relating to the print and the compliance with the conditions in subsection (1) are true; and
(b) that the certificate purporting to be signed by such a public officer, an employee of an authorised person or an authorised person as required by subsection (2) has been signed by him.
(5) The Attorney-General may by order declare any person or class of persons to be authorised persons for the purposes of this section.
(6) For the purpose of this section-
(a) "film" includes a photographic plate, micro-film and machine-copy;
(b) "machine-copy" means a copy made of a document by any machine whereby an image of the contents of the documents is reproduced from surface contact with the documents or by use of photosensitive material other than transparent photographic film;
(c) "photograph" or any of its cognate expressions includes a reference to "machine copy";
(d) a reference to anything in the possession of the Government is a reference to such in the possession of any agency, department of Government or of any public officer in the course of the carrying out by him of his duties in such agency or department.
Oral and Documentary Evidence - Civil Proceedings
58. (1) Subject to this section and to rules of court, in any civil proceedings hearsay evidence not falling within section 39, shall be admissible as evidence of any fact stated therein of which direct oral evidence would be admissible, whether the person alleged to have made the statement is called as a witness or not.	Admissibility of out-of-court statements as evidence of facts stated.
(2) Where in any civil proceedings a party desiring to give a statement in evidence by virtue of this section has called or intends to call as a witness in the proceedings the person by whom the statement was made, the statement-
(a) shall not be given in evidence by virtue of this section on behalf of that party without the leave of the court; and
(b) without prejudice to paragraph (a), shall not be given in evidence by virtue of this section on behalf of that party before the conclusion of the examination-in-chief of the person by whom it was made, except-
(i) where before that person is called the court allows evidence of the making of the statement to be given on behalf of that party by some other person, or
(ii) in so far as the court allows the person by whom the statement was made to narrate it in the course of his examination-in-chief on the ground that to prevent him from doing so would adversely affect the intelligibility of his evidence.
(3) Where in any civil proceedings a statement which was made otherwise than in a document is admissible by virtue of this section, no evidence other than direct oral evidence by the person who made the statement or any person who heard or otherwise perceived it being made shall be admissible for the purpose of proving it:
Provided that if the statement in question was made by a person while giving oral evidence in some other legal proceedings (whether civil or criminal), it may be proved in any manner authorised by the court.
(4) If and so far as rules of court so provide, subsection (2) shall not apply to statements (whether of fact or opinion) contained in expert reports.
59. (1) Where in any civil proceedings-	Witness's previous statement, if proved, to be evidence of facts stated.
(a) a previous inconsistent or contradictory statement made by a person called as a witness in those proceedings is proved by virtue of section 147 or 152; or
(b) a previous statement made by a person called as aforesaid is proved for the purpose of rebutting a suggestion that his evidence has been fabricated,
that statement shall by virtue of this subsection be admissible as evidence of any fact stated therein of which direct oral evidence by him would be admissible.
(2) Nothing in this Act shall affect any of the rules of law relating to the circumstances in which, where a person called as a witness in any civil proceedings is cross-examined on a document used by him to refresh his memory, that document may be made evidence in those proceedings; and where a document or any part of a document is received in evidence in any such proceedings by virtue of any such rule of law, any statement made in that document or part by the person using the document to refresh his memory shall by virtue of this subsection be admissible as evidence of any fact stated therein of which direct oral evidence by him would be admissible
60. (1) Without prejudice to section 61, in any civil proceedings a statement contained in a document shall, subject to this section and to rules of court, be admissible as evidence of any fact stated therein of which direct oral evidence would be admissible, if the document is, or forms part of, a record compiled by a person acting under a duty from information which was supplied by a person (whether acting under a duty or not) who had, or may reasonably be supposed to have had, personal knowledge of the matters dealt with in that information and which, if not supplied by that person to the compiler of the record directly, was supplied by him to the compiler of the record indirectly through one or more intermediaries each acting under a duty; and applies also where the person compiling the record is himself the person by whom the information is supplied.	Admissibility of certain records as evidence of facts stated.
(2) Where in any civil proceedings a party desiring to give a statement in evidence by virtue of this section has called or intends to call as a witness in the proceedings the person who originally supplied the information from which the record containing the statement was compiled, the statement-
(a) shall not be given in evidence by virtue of this section on behalf of that party without the leave of the court; and
(b) without prejudice to paragraph (a) shall not without the leave of the court be given in evidence by virtue of this section on behalf of that party before the conclusion of the examination-in-chief of the person who originally supplied the said information.
(3) Any reference in this section to a person acting under a duty includes a reference to a person acting in the course of any trade, business, profession or other occupation in which he is engaged or employed or for the purposes of any paid or unpaid office held by him.
61. (1) In any civil proceedings a statement contained in a document produced by a computer shall, subject to rules of court, be admissible as evidence of any fact stated therein of which direct oral evidence would be admissible, if it is shown that the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) are satisfied in relation to the statement and computer in question.	Admissibility of statements produced by computers.
(2) The said conditions are-
(a) that the document containing the statement was produced by the computer during a period over which the computer was used regularly to store or process information for the purposes of any activities regularly carried on over that period, whether for profit or not, by any body, whether corporate or not, or by any individual;
(b) that over that period there was regularly supplied to the computer in the ordinary course of those activities information of the kind contained in the statement or of the kind from which the information so contained is derived;
(c) that throughout the material part of that period the computer was operating properly or, if not, that any respect in which it was not operating properly or was out of operation during that part of that period was not such as to affect the production of the document or the accuracy of its contents; and
(d) that the information contained in the statement reproduces or is derived from information supplied to the computer in the ordinary course of those activities.
(3) Where over a period the function of storing or processing information for the purposes of any activities regularly carried on over that period as mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (2) was regularly performed by computers, whether-
(a) by a combination of computers operating over that period;
(b) by different computers operating in succession over that period;
(c) by different combinations of computers operating in succession over that period; or
(d) in any other manner involving the successive operation over that period, in whatever order, of one or more computers and one or more combinations of computers,
all the computers used for that purpose during that period shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as constituting a single computer; and references in this Act to a computer shall be construed accordingly.
(4) In any civil proceedings where it is desired to give a statement in evidence by virtue of this section, a certificate doing any of the following things, that is to say-
(a) identifying the document containing the statement and describing the manner in which it was produced;
(b) giving such particulars of any device involved in the production of that document as may be appropriate for the purpose of showing that the document was produced by a computer;
(c) dealing with any of the matters to which the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) relate,
and purporting to be signed by a person occupying a responsible position in relation to the operation of the relevant device or the management of the relevant activities (whichever is appropriate) shall be evidence of any matter stated