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Section 28.
1 Where a statement is admitted as evidence in criminal proceedings by virtue of Part II of this Act—
(a) any evidence which, if the person making the statement had been called as a witness, would have been admissible as relevant to his credibility as a witness shall be admissible for that purpose in those proceedings;
(b) evidence may, with the leave of the court, be given of any matter which, if that person had been called as a witness, could have been put to him in cross-examination as relevant to his credibility as a witness but of which evidence could not have been adduced by the cross-examining party; and
(c) evidence tending to prove that that person, whether before or after making the statement, made (whether orally or not) some other statement which is inconsistent with it shall be admissible for the purpose of showing that he has contradicted himself.
2 A statement which is given in evidence by virtue of Part II of this Act shall not be capable of corroborating evidence given by the person making it.
3 In estimating the weight, if any, to be attached to such a statement regard shall be had to all the circumstances from which any inference can reasonably be drawn as to its accuracy or otherwise.
4 Without prejudice to the generality of any enactment conferring power to make them—
(a) Crown Court Rules;
(b) Criminal Appeal Rules; and
(c) rules under section 144 of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980,
may make such provision as appears to the authority making any of them to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of Part II of this Act.
5 Expressions used in Part II of this Act and in Part I of the [1968 c. 64.] Civil Evidence Act 1968 are to be construed in Part II of this Act in accordance with section 10 of that Act.
6 In Part II of this Act “confession” has the meaning assigned to it by section 82 of the [1984 c. 60.] Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
Section 36.
1 Notice of an application for leave to refer a case to the Court of Appeal under section 36 above shall be given within 28 days from the day on which the sentence, or the last of the sentences, in the case was passed.
2 If the registrar of criminal appeals is given notice of a reference or application to the Court of Appeal under section 36 above, he shall—
(a) take all necessary steps for obtaining a hearing of the reference or application; and
(b) obtain and lay before the Court in proper form all documents, exhibits and other things which appear necessary for the proper determination of the reference or application.
3 Rules of court may enable a person to whose sentencing such a reference or application relates to obtain from the registrar any documents or things, including copies or reproductions of documents, required for the reference or application and may authorise the registrar to make charges for them in accordance with scales and rates fixed from time to time by the Treasury.
4 An application to the Court of Appeal for leave to refer a case to the House of Lords under section 36(5) above shall be made within the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which the Court of Appeal conclude their review of the case; and an application to the House of Lords for leave shall be made within the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which the Court of Appeal conclude their review or refuse leave to refer the case to the House of Lords.
5 The time during which a person whose case has been referred for review under section 36 above is in custody pending its review and pending any reference to the House of Lords under subsection (5) of that section shall be reckoned as part of the term of any sentence to which he is for the time being subject.
6 Except as provided by paragraphs 7 and 8 below, a person whose sentencing is the subject of a reference to the Court of Appeal under section 36 above shall be entitled to be present, if he wishes it, on the hearing of the reference, although he may be in custody.
7 A person in custody shall not be entitled to be present—
(a) on an application by the Attorney General for leave to refer a case; or
(b) on any proceedings preliminary or incidental to a reference,
unless the Court of Appeal give him leave to be present.
8 The power of the Court of Appeal to pass sentence on a person may be exercised although he is not present.
9 A person whose sentencing is the subject of a reference to the House of Lords under section 36(5) above and who is detained pending the hearing of that reference shall not be entitled to be present on the hearing of the reference or of any proceeding preliminary or incidental thereto except where an order of the House authorises him to be present, or where the House or the Court of Appeal, as the case may be, give him leave to be present.
10 The term of any sentence passed by the Court of Appeal or House of Lords under section 36 above shall, unless they otherwise direct, begin to run from the time when it would have begun to run if passed in the proceeding in relation to which the reference was made.
11 Where on a reference to the Court of Appeal under section 36 above or a reference to the House of Lords under subsection (5) of that section the person whose sentencing is the subject of the reference appears by counsel for the purpose of presenting any argument to the Court or the House, he shall be entitled to his costs, that is to say to the payment out of central funds of such funds as are reasonably sufficient to compensate him for expenses properly incurred by him for the purpose of being represented on the reference; and any amount recoverable under this paragraph shall be ascertained, as soon as practicable, by the registrar of criminal appeals or, as the case may be, such officer as may be prescribed by order of the House of Lords.
12 In the application of this Schedule to Northern Ireland—
(a) any reference to the Attorney General shall be construed as a reference to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland;
(b) any reference (except in paragraph 11) to the registrar of criminal appeals shall be construed as a reference to the Master (Queen’s Bench and Appeals);
(c) the reference in paragraph 11 to central funds shall be construed as a reference to money provided by Parliament;
(d) the reference in paragraph 11 to the registrar of criminal appeals shall be construed as a reference to the Master (Taxing Office).
Criminal Justice Act 1988