Obtaining Evidence From Vulnerable Witnesses

Witnesses’ vulnerabilities sometimes require barristers to take a different approach than the usual to examination in chief or cross-examination. It is critical for barristers to have the skills to be able to adduce evidence from vulnerable witnesses in an effective, ethical and professional manner.

Join Judge Shead SC of the District Court, Miiko Kumar, Deputy Senior Crown Prosecutor, and Hilary Kincaid, lecturer at the College of Law and former Principal Solicitor at the Inner City Legal Centre, to discuss key strategies and skills for adducing evidence from vulnerable witnesses.

Judge Shead SC brings her experience as one of the judges managing the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Pilot, and her previous experience providing training to barristers in vulnerable witness advocacy.

Miiko Kumar chairs the ODPP’s Implementation Committee for the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program.

At the ICLC, Hilary Kincaid worked closely with and for sex worker and transgender communities. She now works regularly as a duty DV lawyer and with vulnerable clients facing criminal charges.