Children have the right to give evidence in courts of law. Our criminal laws are specifically concerned with children of tender years who are 14 years and below.
When a child is presented to give evidence in court, court has to establish whether the child understands the duty of telling the truth and has the necessary intelligence to remember and recollect facts. This procedure is termed as conducting a voire dire
Court will conduct a voire Dire by asking some simple questions to the child, e.g, his name, school, siblings' names and whether he/she knows why they are in court.
The law requires that evidence if a child must be corroborated by either material evidence or testimonies from other witnesses.
Children have the right to give evidence in courts of law. Our criminal laws are specifically concerned with children of tender years who are 14 years and below.
When a child is presented to give evidence in court, court has to establish whether the child understands the duty of telling the truth and has the necessary intelligence to remember and recollect facts. This procedure is termed as conducting a voire dire
Court will conduct a voire Dire by asking some simple questions to the child, e.g, his name, school, siblings' names and whether he/she knows why they are in court.
The law requires that evidence if a child must be corroborated by either material evidence or testimonies from other witnesses.