National Defence Act

Marginal note:Support person — witnesses under 18 or with disability

• 183.1 (1) In proceedings against an accused person in respect of a service offence, a military judge or, if the court martial has been convened, the military judge assigned to preside at the court martial shall, on application of the prosecutor in respect of a witness who is under the age of 18 years or who has a mental or physical disability, or on application of such a witness, order that a support person of the witness’s choice be permitted to be present and to be close to the witness while the witness testifies, unless the military judge is of the opinion that the order would interfere with the proper administration of military justice.

• Marginal note:Other witnesses

  (2) In proceedings against an accused person in respect of a service offence, a military judge or, if the court martial has been convened, the military judge assigned to preside at the court martial may, on application of the prosecutor in respect of a witness, or on application of a witness, order that a support person of the witness’s choice be permitted to be present and to be close to the witness while the witness testifies, if the military judge is of the opinion that the order would facilitate the giving of a full and candid account by the witness of the acts complained of or would otherwise be in the interest of the proper administration of military justice.

• Marginal note:Factors to be considered

  (3) In determining whether to make an order under subsection (2), the military judge shall consider

  • (a) the witness’s age;

  • (b) the witness’s mental or physical disabilities, if any;

  • (c) the nature of the offence;

  • (d) the nature of any relationship between the witness and the accused person;

  • (e) whether the witness needs the order for their security or to protect them from intimidation or retaliation;

  • (f) society’s interest in encouraging the reporting of service offences and the participation of victims and witnesses in the military justice process; and

  • (g) any other factor that the military judge considers relevant.

• Marginal note:Witness not to be support person

  (4) The military judge shall not permit a witness to be a support person unless the military judge is of the opinion that doing so is necessary for the proper administration of military justice.

• Marginal note:No communication while testifying

  (5) The military judge may order that the support person and the witness not communicate with each other while the witness testifies.

• Marginal note:No adverse inference

  (6) No adverse inference may be drawn from the fact that an order is, or is not, made under subsection (2).