COLLAPSE IN COURT
FALL FROM WITNESS BOX A DANGER POINTED OUT When an accused person giving evidence in the Supreme Court yesterday fainted and fell to the floor from the rather high stand of the witness box, certain observations were made by the Crown Prosecutor (Mr F B. Adams). “It seems there is a defect in the provision for witnesses,” said Mr Adams. This was the second case of its kind in recent years. One had occurred at Invercargill, when a witness had fallen during cross-examina-tion and struck his head on the floor. “ There is always a backward fall,” he added. “Possibly something might be done to prevent this possibility of witnesses falling backwards. We provide someone to catch them, but the time is too short. Possibly your Honor might be able to have something done about it.”
Mr Justice Kennedy said he thought that some scheme should be devised for the protection of witnesses. “ I shall refer the matter to the authorities who control these matters,” he said.
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 24530, 12 February 1941, Page 3
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169COLLAPSE IN COURT Otago Daily Times, Issue 24530, 12 February 1941, Page 3
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