Being a witness
What happens?
During the trial, members of your family may be called as witnesses. Being a witness can be a stressful experience. The prosecutor and your court victim advisor can explain what is involved and what to expect. You can also get assistance from your police victim liaison officer.
Your police victim liaison officer or court victim advisor will tell you when you need to be at court. You will also get an official notice delivered to you at home. Your police victim liaison officer or court victim advisor can also arrange for you to visit the courtroom beforehand so you can see what a courtroom looks like and where you will be when you give evidence.
You can have a support person sitting near you when you give evidence. This will need to be arranged with the judge, so ask your court victim advisor or police victim liaison officer to make the request and necessary arrangements.
In most courts, there are separate waiting areas for people who have been called as witnesses, but it is likely that you will still see the accused person’s family and friends in and around the court.
What support can you get?
Safety
If at any time you or your family feels unsafe, talk to your police victim liaison officer, or any police officer or court security officer.
Support for witnesses
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Both the court victim advisor and prosecutor will help you if you are a witness. The prosecutor will talk through your evidence and give you an idea of what is likely to be asked. Your court victim advisor will explain how the court works, and what to expect in the courtroom.
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If you want to see the courtroom before the trial, you can ask your police victim liaison officer, the prosecutor or your court victim advisor to arrange a visit for you.
Arriving at court
Your police victim liaison officer or court victim advisor can meet you when you come to court to give evidence and show you where you can wait. Just ask them to arrange this with you.
