42Leading questions

42 Leading questions (1) A party may put a leading question to a witness in cross-examination unless the court disallows the question or directs the witness not to answer it. deciding whether to disallow the question or give a direction, it must take into account the extent to which— (a) evidence that has been given by the witness in examination-in-chief is unfavourable to the party who called the witness; and (b) the witness has an interest consistent with an interest of the cross-examiner; and (c) the witness is sympathetic to the party conducting the cross-examination, either generally or about a particular matter; and (d) the witness’s age, or any mental, intellectual or physical disability to which the witness is subject, may affect the witness’s answers. (3) The court must disallow the question, or direct the witness not to answer it, if the court is satisfied that the facts would be better ascertained if leading questions were not used. (4) This section does not limit the court’s power to control leading questions. Note Leading question—see the dictionary.