Suspect witnesses

This all started in 1977 with the Turnbull case.  A Turnbull warning is the one most likely to be used, as it sets out all of the guidelines in disputed eye-witness cases.  There must be evidence capable of supporting its correctness or it is not allowed to go to jury in the first place.  This warning is to help stop wrongful conviction on unreliable identifications.  

Cut throat defences: warnings to juries.

A Beck warning is given where it looks as though the Witness has a purpose of their own to serve.  This takes away a corroboration warning requirement, only a need to proceed with caution warning.  Beck warnings may be given against co-defendants or against other people with a purpose of their own to serve.  There is a mandatory Beck warning, and a discretionary Beck warning.  Cut throat defences would be a mandatory one.

Where a witness is mentally ill and of “bad character” the warning, which again is discretionary, is that a jury must have regard to all of the medical evidence and circumstantial evidence of the witnesses character.