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exclusion would result in unfairness to the defendant or, if there is more than one defendant, to
any of them; and (d) to any other circumstances that appear to the court to be relevant. 176

An expert report, when admitted, shall be evidence of any fact or opinion of which the person
making the report could have given oral evidence. 177

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The Evidence Ordinance 1926 incorporates the law and practice of administered for the time

being in England into the law of Evidence of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with such
modifications as may be applicable and necessary. 178

As seen above, the various jurisdictions permit the use of expert evidence in certain
circumstances. Expert evidence may be given orally or may be given via a report. Before an

expert’s report is admissible in evidence, generally the leave of the court is required.

Expert opinion evidence is generally admissible to assist the court with matter which lie outside

the court’s experience and understanding: R v Turner 179

Where, a court can be expected to understand the evidence in question without the requirement

for such assistance, then expert testimony in respect of that evidence will be inadmissible in

court: R v Henry 180

Expert witnesses may express opinions only on matters falling within their own areas of expert
knowledge or competence: R v Doheny, R v Adams 181

The weight to be given to expert evidence is a matter for the court to decide: R v Luttrell 182

176 St. Lucia – Evidence Act Cap. 4:15, section 594)
177 St. Lucia – Evidence Act Cap. 4:15, section 59(5)
178 St. Vincent and the Grenadines – Evidence Act Cap. 158, section 3
179 [1975] QB 834
180 [2005] EWCA Crim 1681
181 [1997] 1 Cr App Rep 369 [1997] Crim LR 669, CA
182 [2004] 2 Cr App Rep 520
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