Are witness statements seen as private documents before a hearing?

[ritemaster]

You've been given statements from your employers witnesses and one of them inadvertently admits to breaking the law. Can I give a copy of that statement to the police or media even though it has not yet been read out in court? Im assuming when it has been read out it is then in the public domain.

[judgemental24]

Re: Are witness statements seen as private documents before a hearing?

You start giving out information on a witness statement while court procedings are ongoing you will find yourself detained for contempt of court and spending the night in Gaol

Sub Judice

[nemesis45]

Re: Are witness statements seen as private documents before a hearing?

It would be unwise all witness statements are disclosed to the parties to a claim at least 14 days prior to a
hearing after the hearing what you do with these documents is up to you.

nem

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Are witness statements seen as private documents before a hearing?

You've been given statements from your employers witnesses and one of them inadvertently admits to breaking the law. Can I give a copy of that statement to the police or media even though it has not yet been read out in court?

It would be unwise to do either at this stage, however, you could certainly turn that fact to your advantage with regards to your claim. At the very least, it would undermine their case.

The police and the media are two completely different things and sit at opposite ends of the spectrum: it is possible to report crimes to the police confidentially, the media on the other hand would probably publish he whole thing. Although journalists argue they never reveal their sources, there are times when there's no need to reveal them as they'd be quite obvious. :mmph:

Im assuming when it has been read out it is then in the public domain.

Witness statements are not in the public domain even when they've been read out at the tribunal.

[ritemaster]

Re: Are witness statements seen as private documents before a hearing?

I will wait until after my hearing before releasing bits of information.