Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

30.   Attempts to refresh memory in court

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    (1)   A witness may not, in the course of giving evidence, use a document to try to refresh his or her memory about a fact without the leave of the court.

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    (2)   The matters that the court shall take into account in determining whether to give leave pursuant to subsection (1), include—

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      (a)     whether the witness will be able to recall the fact adequately without using the document; and

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      (b)     whether so much of the document as the witness proposes to use is, or is a copy of, a document that—

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        (i)     was written or made by the witness at a time when the events recorded in it were fresh in his or her memory, or

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        (ii)     was, at such a time, found by the witness to be accurate.

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    (3)   Where a witness has, while giving evidence, used a document to try to refresh his or her memory about a fact, the witness may, with the leave of the court, read aloud, as part of his or her evidence, so much of the document as relates to that fact.

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    (4)   Where the court grants leave under subsection (1), the court shall, on the request of a party, give such directions as the court thinks fit to ensure that so much of the document as relates to the proceedings is produced to that party upon the discretion being given by the court.