Law of Evidence at Isle of Man (Crown Dependency)
The Isle of Man, as a Crown Dependency, has its own legal framework for the law of evidence, distinct from that of England and Wales. This framework is primarily governed by statutes enacted by the Tynwald, the Isle of Man's parliament, and includes provisions for both civil and criminal proceedings. (Evidence Act 1976 (Isle of Man))
Key Legislation Governing the Law of Evidence
Evidence Act 1871
This foundational statute established the admissibility of Acts of Tynwald and other public documents in evidence. It also introduced provisions for statutory declarations as an alternative to oaths in certain legal contexts.
Evidence Act 1965
This Act updated and expanded upon the 1871 Act, including provisions related to the admissibility of documents printed by authority and penalties for false statements regarding such documents.
Evidence Act 1976
This legislation addressed the admissibility of Acts contained in annual volumes of statutes and revised editions, treating them as copies of Acts to which section 17 of the Evidence Act 1871 applies.
Evidence Act 1983
This Act introduced provisions concerning the presence of defendants at specific locations during the alleged commission of offences, impacting the admissibility of certain types of evidence.
Civil Evidence Act 1973
This Act modernized civil procedure by allowing certain statements and documents to be admissible in civil proceedings, including provisions for the admissibility of convictions as evidence.
Criminal Evidence Act 1967
This legislation introduced provisions regarding the admissibility of statements made outside of court in criminal proceedings, including considerations for the reliability and contemporaneity of such statements.
Administration of Justice Act 2008
This Act included provisions related to the admissibility and weight of hearsay evidence in civil proceedings, allowing for the calling of witnesses for cross-examination on hearsay statements under certain conditions.
Inquiries (Evidence) Act 2003
This Act modernized the law relating to the admissibility of evidence in public inquiries, repealing and amending previous legislation to streamline procedures.
Distinctive Features of Isle of Man Evidence Law
Statutory Declarations: The Evidence Act 1871 introduced statutory declarations as a lawful alternative to oaths, allowing individuals to make solemn declarations in legal proceedings. (Evidence Act 1871 (Isle of Man))
Admissibility of Public Documents: The Evidence Acts have provisions that facilitate the admissibility of public documents and records in legal proceedings, streamlining the process of proving certain facts. (Administration of Justice Act 2008 (Isle of Man))
Hearsay Evidence: The Administration of Justice Act 2008 allows for the admissibility of hearsay evidence in civil proceedings under specific conditions, including the possibility of cross-examining the original declarant.
Convictions as Evidence: Under the Civil Evidence Act 1973, previous convictions can be admissible in civil proceedings to prove that an offence was committed, subject to certain conditions.
Accessing Legal Texts
The full texts of these statutes are accessible through the Global-Regulation website, which provides comprehensive legal resources for the Isle of Man's legislation.
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