Page 371 - Magistrates Conference 2019

The same course may be taken with a witness upon his examination-in-chief, if the judge is of
opinion that he is adverse to the party by whom he was called, or that his memory is in good

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faith at fault, and permits the question.

A witness under cross-examination, or a witness whom the judge, under section 71 (2), has

permitted to be examined by the party who called him as to previous statements, inconsistent
with his present testimony, may be questioned as to previous statements made by him in writing,

or reduced into writing, relative to the subject-matter of the cause or matter, without the writing

being shown to him or being proved in the first instance but, if it is intended to contradict him by
the writing, his attention must, before contradictory proof can be given, be called to those parts
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of the writing which are to be used for the purpose of contradicting him.

The judge may, at any time during the hearing or trial, require the document to be produced for
his inspection, and may thereupon make any use of it for the purposes of the hearing or trial he

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thinks fit.

The credit of any witness may be impeached by the opposite party by the evidence of persons

who swear that they, from their knowledge of the witness, believe him to be unworthy of credit
upon oath, but those persons may not, upon their examination-in-chief, give reasons for their

belief, although they may be asked their reasons in cross-examination and their answers cannot
be contradicted. It shall not be competent for the party by whom any witness is called to impeach

the credit of that witness by any such evidence but, when it is given by the opposite party, the

party who called the witness may give evidence in reply to show that the witness is worthy of
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credit.

Grenada

95 Belize – Evidence Act Cap. 95, section 71(2)
96 Belize – Evidence Act Cap. 95, section 72(1)
97 Belize – Evidence Act Cap. 95, section 72(2)
98 Belize – Evidence Act Cap. 95, section 73
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