219Alternative arrangements for reading aloud of victim impact statement

219 Alternative arrangements for reading aloud of victim impact statement

(1) The Children's Court may direct that alternative arrangements be made for the reading aloud of a victim impact statement under section 218.

(2) The direction may be given—

(a) on the application of the person who is to read aloud the victim impact statement at a sentencing hearing; or

(c) on the Children's Court's own motion.

(3) Without limiting subsection (1), alternative arrangements may include—

(a) permitting the victim impact statement to be read aloud from a place other than the courtroom by means of audio visual link; or

(b) using screens to remove the person reading the victim impact statement from the direct line of vision of the child; or

(c) permitting a person chosen by the person reading the victim impact statement and approved by the Children's Court to be beside the person reading the victim impact statement while it is read aloud, for the purpose of providing emotional support to the person reading the victim impact statement; or

(d) permitting only persons specified by the Children's Court to be present while the victim impact statement is read aloud.

(4) The Children's Court may revoke or vary the direction—

(a) on the application of the person who is to read aloud the victim impact statement; or

(c) on its own motion.

(5) For the purposes of this section, the reading aloud of a victim impact statement includes the display of material included in the victim impact statement.