Final questions arising out of cross-examination

All Contents > Witness Evidence and Questioning > Examination-in-chief > Cross-examination > Re-examination

“Re-examination ... enables the party who first called the witness to ask further questions, but only if those questions relate to a matter which has arisen during the cross-examination of that witness.”

On this page:

What is re-examination?
What is re-examination used for?
The power of re-examination
What happens when I have finished giving my evidence?

What is re-examination?

Re-examination is the final part of questioning of a witness at trial following their cross-examination.

It enables the party who first called the witness to ask further questions, but only if those questions relate to a matter which has arisen during the cross-examination of that witness.

For example, a prosecution witness will be taken through their evidence-in-chief by the prosecutor, then cross-examined by the defence, and then re-examined by the prosecutor concerning any matters that arose during the cross-examination.

A defendant or a defence witness will be taken through their evidence-in-chief by the defence advocate, then cross-examined by the prosecution, then re-examined by the defence advocate concerning anything that arose during that cross-examination.