WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1980
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO 2) BILL WITHDRAWN
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THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO 2) BILL 1980 WHICH ALLOWS THE SPOUSES OF ACCUSED PERSONS TO GIVE EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION WAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN WITHDRAWING THE BILL, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON G.P. NAZARETH SAID THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE EXAMINED ÎN CONSULTATION WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND HE HOPED TO INTRODUCE A FRESH BILL TO THE COUNCIL SOON.
MR NAZARETH EXPLAINED THAT SOME UNOFFICIALS HAD EXPRESSED GRAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS AND POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF PERMITTING, ON A GENERAL BASIS, THE SPOUSES OF ACCUSED PERSON TO TESTIFY FOR THE PROSECUTION.
+THEY WOULD PREFER THE EXISTING BASIS OF COMPETENCE TO TESTIFY IN SPECIFIED CASES TO BE RETAINED AND EXTENDED TO SPECIFIC TYPES OF CASES CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE, HE SAID.
AT PRESENT, EXCEPT IN A FEW SPECIFIED CASES, SPOUSES ARE NOT PERMITTED TO GIVE EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION.
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