ACTIn ForceAct
Evidence Act 2011
53Views
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 53
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Evidence Act 2011.
53 Views
(1) A judge may, on application, order that a demonstration, experiment
or inspection be held.
(2) A judge must not make an order unless satisfied that—
(a) the parties will be given a reasonable opportunity to be present;
and
(b) the judge and, if there is a jury, the jury will be present.
(3) Without limiting the matters that the judge may take into account in
deciding whether to make an order, the judge must take into account
the following:
(a) whether the parties will be present;
(b) whether the demonstration, experiment or inspection will, in the
court’s opinion, assist the court in resolving issues of fact or
understanding the evidence;
(c) the danger that the demonstration, experiment or inspection
might be unfairly prejudicial, might be misleading or confusing
or might cause or result in undue waste of time;
(d) in the case of a demonstration—the extent to which the
demonstration will properly reproduce the conduct or event to
be demonstrated;
(e) in the case of an inspection—the extent to which the place or
thing to be inspected has materially altered.
(4) The court (including, if there is a jury, the jury) must not conduct an
experiment in the course of its deliberations.
(5) This section does not apply in relation to the inspection of an exhibit
by the court or, if there is a jury, by the jury.