The Doctor and the Court:Court Procedures and Expert

Evidences
DATO DR ZAHARI BIN NOOR, DIMP.
MD(USM), DLM(Sheffield), DMJ(Lond),
MSc(Sheffield), DipForMed(Monash).
FFFLM(Lond)

Ketua Jabatan dan Pakar Perunding

Forensik
Jabatan Perubatan Forensik
Hospital Pulau Pinang

Modes of presenting evidences

Preliminary reports
Medical Reports
Medical Records
Oral statements to the police
Oral evidence in the court

Medical Reports for Medico legal

purposes

Writing medical reports

Tell about yourself Name, Post, Qualifications,
Experience
Tell about the patient Patients ID
Date, time & place of examination
Reasons for the examination
Consent obtained from whom
Who was present during the examination
Relevant Presenting H/O
Clinical Findings
What samples taken and to whom handed
Relevant treatment
Conclusion

WRITING MEDICAL REPORTS

Factual or opinion or both

Format flexible and comprehensible
Clear and easy to read
Intelligible to non medical people
Language straightforward and simple
Accurate and balance
Divided into sections and subsections

 Check and double check for errors

Non fiction report please
Dont forget to sign,date and your name

11 3

Presenting Evidence in court

Expert evidence
When the court has to form an opinion upon a
point of science or art. The opinion upon that
point of persons specially skilled in the science or
art are relevant facts (S45 (1) Evidence Act 1957)
Such persons are called experts (S45 (2) Evidence Act
1957)

An expert opinion is only admissible scientific

information which is unlikely within the
experience and knowledge of a judge. (Chou Kooi
Pand v PP (1998) 3 SLR 593, 598 (CA)

The expert witness

If the subject matter of the trial is one where the
average man is capable of making up his own
mind, expert evidence is inadmissible.
But where technical or scientific insight is required
to understand the issues which are outside the
experience or knowledge of the Judge, expert
evidence is admitted in order to assist the Court to
arrive at the proper conclusion.
(Dato' Mahadev Shankar Former Judge, Court of
Appeal of Malaysia, 2nd National Medico-Legal
Conference, Kuala Lumpur, April 2000)

Expert Evidence 2 types

The distinction between expert evidence of a fact and
expert evidence of opinion can often be blurred especially
if the witness is giving evidence of both kinds.
The law permits evidence to be given of facts which may
be invisible to a lay witness but is visible to an expert
because his particular skill has enabled him to identify
those facts perhaps with the aid of sophisticated
equipment.
Opinion evidence based on other facts which do not
require capacities for perception beyond the limits of the
layman is not admissible.

 A doctors evidence can be characterized as

an expert,.
The decision to acknowledge an expert is
made by the judge, whereby it is admissible
by the court.

Calling the witness

In Criminal Court. The application for
subpoena shall be made by the counsel who
required that witness. The Court will call
witnesses by way of issuing a Subpoena
In Civil court the counsel may submit that
application and call the witness without the
need of subpoena.

What is subpoena
Subpoena is a notice from the court that
compelled the witness to be present in court
at the specified place, time and date.
In Criminal Court, the subpoena will be
handed by Police Officer from the
Procecuting Division (Cawangan
Pendakwaan).

Subpoenas
Issued in
Peninsular
Malaysia

Subpoenas Issued in Sabah & Sarawak

Subpoenas
Accepting subpoena
Sign subpoenas yourself
Call the IO/PO asked the details
Photocopies not accepted please
Phone calls only not answered
Dont let your nurse/MA signed for you
Uses of subpoenas
Proof of traveling claims
Proof of your attendance in court, make
subpoena is signed and stamped
before you leave the court.

sure the

What happened if you refused to go to

court once you accepted a subpoena
Melarikan diri bagi mengelakkan daripada
disampaikan sapina menjadi satu kesalahan S.172
Kanun Keseksaan
Jika setelah menerima sapina dan saksi enggan atau
tidak hadir ditempat, tarikh dan masa yang
ditetapkan menjadikan satu kesalahan. S.174 Kanun
Keseksaan.
Hukuman: Penjara enam bulan, denda atau keduadua.

Preparing for Court Trial

Revise material/case
Prepare materials to be used
Pre-trial meeting with prosecutor
Know where & which is the court
Have clear mind and purpose
Be impartial and not judgmental
Have a good night's rest!

ETIKA MAHKAMAH

ETIKA MAHKAMAH
WAKTU MAHKAMAH
PAKAIAN
BAHASA/TINGKAH LAKU
(Perlu diketahui Kegagalan mematuhi
Kesalahannya Penghinaan Mahkamah)

WAKTU MAHKAMAH
Chief Justices Practice Direction Pada amnya semua
mahkamah perlu mengikuti masa bekerja seperti
berikut:
9.00 pg 11.00 pg : Persidangan Mahkamah Terbuka.
11.15 pg 12.30 t/hari : Sambungan.
2.00 ptg 4.00 ptg : Sambungan.
Nota: Masa diatas praktik secara am. Terdapat Majistret/Hakim
bermula lebih awal dan tamat lebih daripada jam 5 petang. Perlu
mengetahui bagaimanakah seseorang Magistret menjalankan
perbicaraan.

PAKAIAN
PEGUAM Seluar, tali leher & jaket hitam, dengan
baju lengan panjang putih. Wanita dalam jacket
hitam (no brass buttons), baju putih lengan panjang,
skirt panjang (dibawah lutut) hitam.
PENDAKWA RAYA TPR dan agensi kerajaan
yang boleh menjalankan pendakwaan, pakaiannya
sama dengan peguam. Agensi lain yang beruniform
perlu lengkap diri dalam pakaian kerjanya.

PAKAIAN
SAKSI Berpakian kemas tidak boleh pakai
selipar, T-shirts tiada berkolar dan jeans.
Magistret boleh mengarahkan saksi, peguam,
pendakwa raya keluar dari premis mahkamah
jika tidak mematuhi arahan berpakaian ini.
(It is prudent for prosecuting officers to advice
their witnesses to dress up properly before
attending Court. Non-compliance to dress code
may subject the offender to contempt of Court
proceedings.)

Going to Court
Men pakai baju dan seluar please
Smart, tie, long sleeve, pants, shoes, dark suit
better (esp. High Court)
Ladies no mini skirts, no low cut, no bare back
and no bare arm pits
Bring along your Medical Reports, Draft, even
contemporaneous notes
Be there early
Make your self known
Be prepared

Please dont torture the Judge!

Dont be too extreme!

ADDRESSING THE COURT

Yang Amat Arif Ketua Hakim Negara,

Hakim Besar Malaya, Hakim Besar Borneo.
Yang Arif Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan,
Mahkamah rayuan, Mahkamah Tinggi,
Pesuruhjaya Kehakiman (Judicial
Commissioner).

ADDRESSING THE COURT

Tuan/Puan Pendaftar Penolong Kanan
Pendaftar.
Tuan/Puan Hakim Hakim Mahkamah Sesyen.
Tuan/Puan Majistret Majistret.
Encik/Cik Peguam & Saksi
Nota: Sabah & Sarawak - My Lord or Your Honour

In the court
Any witness in Court will undergo 3 stages
of examination by the lawyers
Examination in chief - by the lawyer who
called the witness (S 137(1)Evidence Act 1957)
Cross examination - by the opposing lawyer
(S 137(2)Evidence Act 1957)
Re examination by the lawyer who called
the witness (S 137(3)Evidence Act 1957)

 S. 138 (2) AK Pemeriksaan utama dan pemeriksaan balas

mestilah berhubungan dengan fakta relevan, tetapi
pemeriksaan balas tidak perlu dihadkan kepada fakta-fakta
yang telah diberi sebagai keterangan oleh saksi dalam
pemeriksaan utamanya.
S. 138 (3) AK - Pemeriksaan semula hendaklah diarahkan
kepada penghuraian perkara-perkara yang disebut dalam
pemeriksaan balas. Perkara baru boleh dengan kebenaran
mahkamah tetapi pihak lawan berhak memeriksa balas.
S. 138 (4) AK - Mahkamah boleh membenarkan saksi
dipanggil semula

In the Courtwhen your name is called

Get ready your identification document
(eg.I/C, passport,etc)
Upon entering the court bow your head
slightly towards the judge
Court personnel will usher you to the
witness stand/witness box/ kandang saksi
Court personnel will ask for your ID
document to pass to the judge

In the Witness Box

Read the oath clearly
Asked permission before referring to your notes
Look at the judge or the magistrate when giving
evidence
Talk slowly but clearly (remember judges write every
word you said in long hand)
Be prepared to explain and teach the court, but do not
talk beyond the scope of questions asked of you. Offer
no more information than you are asked and be aware
of the limits of your experience.
Relax and dont behave like you are the accused (the
opposing lawyers will love you)

LANGUAGE/MANNERISM

AKTA BAHASA KEBANGSAAN 1963/1967

Sec. 8 1 Jun 1990 Bahasa Melayu (BM) untuk

digunakan di semua mahkamah Semenanjung
Msia. Tetapi, seorang saksi boleh memilih
mana satu bahasa yang beliau ingin memberi
kenyataannya akan tetapi pernyataan akan
diterjemah dalam Bahasa Melayu kepada
Mahkamah.

LANGUAGE/MANNERISM
AKTA BAHASA KEBANGSAAN 1963/1967

S.8 memberi kuasa kepada Mahkamah untuk memilih

prosiding samaada dalam B. Melayu ataupun Inggeris.

Jika satu pihak membantah kegunaan sesuatu bahasa,

Hakim akan membuat satu keputusan mana satu bahasa
untuk digunakan demi kepentingan keadilan
mendengarkan kes.

Giving Evidence
No medical or scientific witness is likely to find
himself in difficulties if he has paid attention to four
basic rules:
1. Familiarise yourself with the facts of the case.
2. Make positive efforts in the choice of words and
phrases to express yourself clearly and succinctly.
3. Confine your evidence to your field(s) of expertise.
4. Remain tolerant and courteous, whilst firm.
(Professor Keith Simpson)

Cross examination
The opposing counsel will attempt to show that you are not
qualified (Junaidi vs PP (1993) 3 MLJ 229)
To discredit you, the cross-examiner will try to show you
have little or no theoretical, educational or practical
experience. (Sim Ah Poh v PP (1962) MLJ 42)
Will try to show inconsistencies in statements you have
made in your discovery deposition, any written reports you
have made (Lee Beng Siang v PP (1992) MLJ 120)
To discredit the foundations of your opinions, the opposing
counsel will question whether you have run enough tests,
examined enough facts, etc.
The opposing counsel may try to show you are confused
and therefore could be wrong.

The experience and

qualification
of the Chemist been
questioned in court
by the defense
lawyer

MEMPERINGATKAN SEMULA
Sek 159 AK - Saksi boleh merujuk kepada tulisan dibuat
olehnya sendiri pada masa transaksi yang mengenainya dia
disoal, atau selepas sahaja daripadanya hingga difikirkan
mungkin oleh mahkamah bahawa transaksi itu masih pada masa
itu jelas dalam ingatan.
Boleh rujuk mana-mana tulisan oleh lain orang dan dibaca oleh
saksi pada masa tersebut dulu, dan dia tahu tulisan itu betul .
Sek 160 AK - Saksi boleh memberi keterangan mengenai faktafakta yang disebutkan dalam mana-mana dokumen yang
tersebut dalam seksyen 159, walaupun dia tidak mempunyai
ingatan spesifik tentang fakta itu sendiri, jika dia yakin bahawa
fakta itu telah direkodkan dengan betul dalam dokumen itu.

 Sek 161 AK - Apa-apa tulisan mestilah

dikemukakan dan ditunjukkan kepada pihak
lawan jika dia menghendakinya dan boleh
memeriksa balas saksi itu mengenai tulisan
itu.

MEMPERINGATKAN SEMULA
Bolehkah seorang saksi merujuk pernyataan d/b sek 112
KPJ sebelum memberi keterangan?
Kes Moomin bin Seman v PP [1993] 3 MLJ 282 mengatakan tidak boleh.
Kes PP V Dato Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim(No 3)
[1999] 2 MLJ 1 Percakapan polis boleh ditunjukkan
kepada saksi sebelum memberi keterangan, tiada
penghalangan disisi undang-undang

The Art of testimony

Its easier for the judge to absorb what youre saying
when you phrase well and allow time for the listener
to grasp what you have said. Pausing before and after
important points helps accomplish this.
Avoid being rude and aggressive.
Look at the judge when you talk.
Watch your demeanor, body language and try to make
an impression of your obvious sincerity.
Show your ability to explain information in clear
simple terms.

Last but not least You are there

You are there as a friend of the Court
You are there as a doctor (expert witness) who
assist the court in the proceeding
You are there as non partisan professional or
expert witness
You are there not belongs to anybody except to
god
You are there, so be responsible to the oath youve
taken to tell the truth nothing but the truth