Campaigners argue that cross-examination in court forces victims to relive their trauma AlamyRape complainants will be allowed to pre-record cross-examination evidence in advance of trials under a controversial pilot scheme which launches in three crown courts today. The move comes more than two years after Liz Truss, as justice secretary, triggered a row with senior judges over the plans. Ms Truss, now the chief secretary to the Treasury, was criticised by Lord Thomas, the lord chief justice at the time, who said she had caused confusion when she revealed details of the scheme in March 2017. At the time, Ms Truss said that it had been agreed with the judiciary and would be “fast tracked” and introduced nationwide in September of that year. However, in a rare public dispute between a lord chancellor and the most senior…

Source: The Times June 02, 2019 23:48 UTC