{"product_id":"children-and-cross-examination-time-to-change-the-rules-9781849463072","title":"Children and Cross-Examination: Time to Change the Rules?","description":"\u003cp\u003e • Author(s): John R. Spencer\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC\u003cbr\u003e • BISAC: Evidence\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 2009, Stephen Barker was convicted of rape on the evidence of a little girl who was four-and-a-half years old at the trial, and about three-and-a-half when first interviewed by the police. The high point of the proceedings was the child's appearance as a live witness in order for Barker's counsel to attempt a cross-examination. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis case focused attention on the need, imposed by current English law, for even tiny children to come to court for a live cross-examination. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 1989, the Pigot Committee proposed a scheme under which the whole of a young child's evidence, including cross-examination, would be obtained out of court and in advance of trial. In 1999 a provision designed to give effect to this was included in the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act, but it has not yet been brought into force. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe full Pigot proposal was implemented, however, in Western Australia, and similar schemes operate in a number of European jurisdictions. This book of essays examines a number of these schemes, and argues the case for further reforms in the UK.","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PLC","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":45082839318679,"sku":"9781849463072","price":7010.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0666\/3471\/1191\/files\/9781849463072.webp?v=1767263441","url":"https:\/\/atlanticbooks.com\/products\/children-and-cross-examination-time-to-change-the-rules-9781849463072","provider":"Atlantic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}