49Witness may have support person in court

49 Witness may have support person in court (1) A court must, in a relevant proceeding, on application by a party who intends to call a witness, order that the witness have a person (a support person) in the court close to the witness, and within the witness’s sight, while the witness gives evidence. (2) The court may order that a witness have more than 1 support person if it considers it is in the interests of justice. (3) The support person must not— (a) speak for the witness during the relevant proceeding; or (b) otherwise interfere in the proceeding. (4) Unless the court otherwise orders, the support person must not be, or be likely to be, a witness or party in the proceeding.

(5) If the relevant proceeding is a trial by jury, the court must tell the jury (a) a witness having a support person in the court while giving evidence is a usual practice; and or give the evidence more or less weight, because the support person is present.