What is the effect of a witness statement at trial when the witness is giving oral evidence?

• A. It stands as the witness's evidence in chief unless the court orders otherwise
• B. It is used only for cross-examination
• C. It is not admissible
• D. It replaces oral evidence entirely

Answer: (A)

When a witness gives oral evidence at trial, the written witness statement is treated as the evidence in chief—the witness adopts or relies on the contents of their statement as their primary account of the facts, unless the court orders otherwise. This means the statement provides the core of what the witness says on their direct examination, and any further oral detail is built on that basis. The court can allow, limit, or alter this arrangement, but the default position is that the statement stands as the evidence in chief. Cross-examination then follows to test that evidence. The other options don’t fit because the statement isn’t limited to cross-examination, it is admissible, and it doesn’t replace oral evidence entirely since the witness still testifies orally in court.