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CRIMES ACT 1914 SECT 23XX
23XX Inadmissibility of evidence from improper forensic
procedures etc.
- (1)
- This section applies where:
- (a)
- a forensic procedure has been carried out on a
person; and
- (b)
- there has been a breach of, or failure to comply
with:
- (i)
- any provision of this Part in relation to a
forensic procedure carried out on the person
(including, but not limited to, any breach or
failure to comply with a provision requiring things
to be done at any time before or after the forensic
procedure is carried out); or
- (ii)
- any provision of Division 8A with respect to
recording or use of information on the DNA database
system.
- (2)
- This section does not apply where:
- (a)
- a provision of this Part required forensic material
to be destroyed; and
- (b)
- the forensic material has not been destroyed.
Note: Section 23XY
applies where this Part requires forensic material to have
been destroyed.
- (3)
- This section applies to:
- (a)
- evidence of forensic material, or evidence
consisting of forensic material, taken from the person
by the forensic procedure; and
- (b)
- evidence of any results of the analysis of the
forensic material; and
- (c)
- any other evidence made or obtained as a result of
or in connection with the carrying out of the forensic
procedure.
- (4)
- Where this section applies, evidence described in
subsection (3) is not admissible in any proceedings
against the person in a court unless:
- (a)
- the person does not object to the admission of the
evidence; or
- (b)
- the court is satisfied on the balance of
probabilities of matters that, in the court's opinion,
justify the admission of the evidence in the
proceedings in spite of the failure to comply with the
provisions of this Part.
- (5)
- The matters that may be considered by the court for the
purposes of paragraph (4)(b) are the following:
- (a)
- the probative value of the evidence, including
whether equivalent evidence or evidence of equivalent
probative value could have been obtained by other
means;
- (b)
- the reasons given for the failure to comply with the
provisions of this Part;
- (c)
- the gravity of the failure to comply with the
provisions of this Part, and whether the failure
deprived the person of a significant protection under
this Part;
- (d)
- whether the failure to comply with the provisions of
this Part was intentional or reckless;
- (e)
- the nature of the provision of this Part that was
not complied with;
- (f)
- the nature of the offence concerned and the subject
matter of the proceedings; (g) whether admitting the
evidence would seriously undermine the protection
given to persons by this Part;
- (h)
- any other matters the court considers to be
relevant.
- (6)
- The probative value of the evidence does not by itself
justify the admission of the evidence.
- (7)
- If a judge permits evidence to be given before a jury
under subsection (4), the judge must:
- (a)
- inform the jury of the breach of, or failure to
comply with, a provision of this Part; and
- (b)
- give the jury such warning about the evidence as the
judge thinks appropriate in the circumstances.
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