National Defence Act

Marginal note:Support person or animal — witnesses under 18 or who have 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 or a support animal 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:Victims — certain offences

  (1.1) In proceedings against an accused person in respect of an offence punishable under section 130 that is an offence under the Criminal Code and that is also an offence of a sexual nature or committed for a sexual purpose, an offence related to criminal harassment or trafficking in persons or an offence committed against their intimate partner, 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 a victim of such an offence or on application of such a witness, order that a support person of the witness’s choice or a support animal 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:Inquiry by court

  (1.2) If an application for an order under subsection (1) or (1.1) is not made, the military judge shall inquire of the prosecutor whether reasonable steps have been taken to inform the witness that such an application may be made.

• 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 or a support animal 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 shall be drawn from the fact that an order is, or is not, made under this section.