Witnesses and evidence (criminal cases)

If a person or organisation involved in a court proceeding (a party) wants a person to attend a hearing to give evidence or to produce documents or other things, that party may request the court to issue a witness summons.

That party needs to complete and submit the summons at any Children’s Court venue.

A registrar will then issue the summons. Once issued, a copy of it must be given to the person who is being summoned. The witness must be given sufficient notice about the upcoming hearing date.

In some cases, the party might need to cover the costs the witness incurs to attend the hearing.