Being a Witness or a Victim

Witness: an individual who is summonsed to appear in Court to speak to what they know about a crime.

You are called as a witness because you know the circumstances of a case. Witnesses make a vital contribution to our system of justice and as in many cases, justice cannot be achieved without witnesses giving evidence for the court to act upon.

Usually, victims of crime are witnesses in respect of criminal cases.

Victim of Crime: an individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, emotional or financial harm as a result of a crime.

Legitimate Expectations:

• Victims of crime have a right to expect to be heard;
• Victims of crime have a right to expect progress reports from the Police and the ODPP regarding the investigations of a criminal complaint, or the progress of a criminal action instituted by the DPP;
• Victims of crime have a right to expect to be notified of the results of a criminal action instituted by the DPP;
• Victims of crime have a right to expect courtesy and respect from Prosecutors, Defence Counsel and the Court, and
• Victims of crime have a right to expect their adverse experiences, injuries, and emotional or financial harm as a result of a crime represented in the sentence imposed against an offender.