Being a witness

If you are called as a witness
If you are to give evidence in court as a witness for the prosecution, you will be sent a letter from the Procurator Fiscal. The letter (called a citation) will tell you:

• The date to go to court
• Which court to go to
• What time to be there
• How to get there.

With the letter, you will get a booklet called “Being a Witness”. It aims to answer many of the questions you may have and gives you information about:

• Who's who in court
• What to bring to court
• What will happen when you get there
• Giving evidence
• What expenses you can claim and how to do this

If it is a problem to get to the court on the day you have been called to be a prosecution witness, let the Fiscal know immediately.

If the trial cannot go ahead on the expected date, the citation is cancelled, and you will be sent another citation for another court date.

If you are a defence witnesses you will be notified (cited) by the defence solicitor. In those cases, expenses will be paid by the defence.