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Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
115Exclusion of evidence of identification by pictures
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115 Exclusion of evidence of identification by pictures
picture identification evidence means identification evidence
relating to an identification made wholly or partly by the person who
made the identification examining pictures kept for the use of police
officers.
(2) Picture identification evidence adduced by the prosecutor is not
admissible if the pictures examined suggest that they are pictures
of persons in police custody.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), picture identification evidence adduced
by the prosecutor is not admissible if:
(a) when the pictures were examined, the defendant was in the
custody of a police officer of the police force investigating the
commission of the offence with which the defendant has been
charged; and
(b) the picture of the defendant that was examined was made
before the defendant was taken into that police custody.
Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 66
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if:
(a) the defendant's appearance had changed significantly
between the time when the offence was committed and the
time when the defendant was taken into that custody; or
(b) it was not reasonably practicable to make a picture of the
defendant after the defendant was taken into that custody.
(5) Picture identification evidence adduced by the prosecutor is not
admissible if, when the pictures were examined, the defendant was
in the custody of a police officer of the police force investigating the
commission of the offence with which the defendant has been
charged, unless:
(a) the defendant refused to take part in an identification parade;
or
(b) the defendant's appearance had changed significantly
between the time when the offence was committed and the
time when the defendant was taken into that custody; or
(c) it would not have been reasonable to have held an
identification parade that included the defendant.
(6) Section 114(3), (4), (5) and (6) apply in determining, for the
purposes of subsection (5)(c) of this section, whether it would have
been reasonable to have held an identification parade.
(7) If picture identification evidence adduced by the prosecutor is
admitted into evidence, the judge must, on the request of the
defendant:
(a) if the picture of the defendant was made after the defendant
was taken into that custody – inform the jury that the picture
was made after the defendant was taken into that custody; or
(b) otherwise – warn the jury that they must not assume that the
defendant has a criminal record or has previously been
charged with an offence.
Note for subsection (7)
Sections 116 (Directions to jury) and 165 (Unreliable evidence) also deal with
warnings about identification evidence.
(8) This section does not render inadmissible picture identification
evidence adduced by the prosecutor that contradicts or qualifies
picture identification evidence adduced by the defendant.
(9) This section applies in addition to section 114.
Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 67
(10) In this section:
(a) a reference to a picture includes a reference to a photograph;
and
(b) a reference to making a picture includes a reference to taking
a photograph.