PRIVILEGED EVIDENCE
STATEMENTS TO POLICE WITNESS GIVEN PROTECTION [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, "Wednesday When Constable W. E. C. Pool, of Ongarue, was being questioned by Mr. J. F. Strang, counsel f<sr defendant, in a damages claim heard before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, to-day, the constable claimed protection.
The question put to the constable referred to statejments he received from eye-witnesses of the collision which led to the action being brought. The constable submitted that the statements were privileged, and he said his instructions were not to disclose the statements except by direction of the Judge or with the written permission of the persons concerned. His Honor said he was bound to give a ruling in' accordance with his own opinion that statements made to police officers in the course of inquiries respecting possible criminal, action were privileged, and that witnesses were protected from disclosing them on the grounds that it would bo contrary to public policy. Oral as well as written statements were covered by the ruling. The evidence sought was not given.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22046, 28 February 1935, Page 14
Word Count
178PRIVILEGED EVIDENCE New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22046, 28 February 1935, Page 14
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