Page 368 - Magistrates Conference 2019
P. 368

A party producing a witness shall not be allowed to impeach his credit by general evidence of
               bad character, but he may, in case the witness shall, in the opinion of the judge, prove adverse,

               contradict him by  other  evidence, or by leave of the judge, prove that he has made, at other
               times, a statement inconsistent with his present testimony; but, before such last mentioned proof

               can be given, the circumstances of the supposed statement, sufficient to designate the particular

               occasion, must be mentioned to the witness, and he must be asked whether or not he has made
                                85
               such a statement.

               If a witness, upon cross examination as to a former statement made by him relative to the subject
               matter of the cause and inconsistent with his present testimony, does not distinctly admit that he

               has made such a statement, proof may be given that he did in fact make it, but, before such proof
               can be given, the circumstances of the supposed statement, sufficient to designate the particular

               occasion, must be mentioned to the witness, and he must be asked whether or not he has made
                              86
               such statement.



               Antigua and Barbuda


               A party producing a witness shall not be allowed to impeach his credit by general evidence of
                             87
               bad character.
               If a witness, in the opinion of the court, proves adverse, the party producing the witness may

               contradict him by other evidence, or, by leave of the court, may prove that he had made at other

                                                                           88
               times a statement inconsistent with the testimony being given.
               Before attempting to prove an inconsistency, the party attempting to prove it shall outline the

               circumstances of the inconsistent statement in sufficient detail to the witness, and the witness
                                                    89
               shall be given an opportunity to reply.

               Where the party producing a witness alleges that the witness made at another time a statement in
               writing, or a statement which has been reduced to writing, or recorded by a reliable means, that is


               85  Anguilla – Evidence Act Chap. E65, section 15
               86  Anguilla – Evidence Act Chap. E65, section 16
               87  Antigua and Barbuda – The Evidence (Special Provisions) Act No. 5 of 2009, section 10(1)
               88  Antigua and Barbuda – The Evidence (Special Provisions) Act No. 5 of 2009, section 10(2)
               89  Antigua and Barbuda – The Evidence (Special Provisions) Act No. 5 of 2009, section 10(3)
                                                                                                           30
   363   364   365   366   367   368   369   370   371   372   373