What is the difference between witness familiarisation and coaching?
Coaching has always been prohibited. Lawyers are not allowed to prepare witnesses on what they should say or attempt to persuade the witness into changing their evidence. In contrast witness familiarisation is encouraged by both the Bar Council and the Court of Appeal. Witnesses should not be disadvantaged by the ignorance of the process or taken by surprise at the way in which the hearing works. There is a duty to put witnesses at ease as much as possible before their hearing.
