Criminal Trials Court Bench Book Update 61 published

Update 61 of the Criminal Trials Court Bench Book includes a new section on the Sexual assault communications privilege. This has been added in the Trial Procedure chapter at [1-895] and ff. The new section discusses the special provisions in sexual assault trials contained in Ch 6, Pt 5, Div 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 associated with the production, and admissibility, of counselling communications involving victims, or alleged victims, of sexual assault. The section considers which communications are protected; applications for leave; disclosing and allowing access to protected confidences and the power to make ancillary orders associated with in disclosure.