South Australian Current Acts South Australian Current Acts20—Right of appearance and taking evidence
(1) The following
persons are entitled to appear personally or by counsel in proceedings before
the Coroner's Court:
(a) the
Attorney-General;
(b) any
person who, in the opinion of the Court, has a sufficient interest in the
subject or result of the proceedings.
(2) A person appearing
before the Court under subsection (1) may examine and cross-examine any
witness testifying in the proceedings.
(3) The Court may
accept evidence in the proceedings from a witness by affidavit or by written
statement verified by declaration in the form prescribed by the rules.
(4) However, if the
witness is a child under the age of 12 years or a person who is illiterate or
has an intellectual disability, the witness's statement may be in the form of
a written statement taken down by a coroner or an investigator at an interview
with the witness and verified by the coroner or investigator, by declaration
in the form prescribed by the rules, as an accurate record of the witness's
oral statement.
(5) The Court may
require a person who has given evidence by affidavit or written statement to
attend before the Court for the purposes of examination and cross-examination.
(6) If—
(a) a
written statement made by a person under this section is false or misleading
in a material particular; and
(b) the
person knew that the statement was false or misleading,
the person is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.