Sexual assault victims to be spared repeated grilling by lawyers under new Victorian reforms
Labor says bill will ban cross-examinations of complainants until cases go to trial
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Victims of sexual assault, stalking and family violence in Victoria will be spared from being repeatedly grilled by defence lawyers during the court process, as part of an overhaul of pre-trial hearings.
In a move welcomed by advocates as a way to limit “fishing expeditions” to find weaknesses in testimony, the justice legislation amendment (committals) bill 2024 will guarantee that victims and witnesses of particularly traumatic cases will not be cross-examined by defence lawyers during committal hearings.
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Law (Australia) | The Guardian
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