What are my rights as a witness in criminal or misdemeanour proceedings?
Witnesses in criminal proceedings have the following rights:
- not to answer individual questions if it is likely they would thus expose themselves or a close relative to criminal prosecution, grave embarrassment or considerable material damage;
- to use their own language, and to have an interpreter present if they are deaf or mute;
- in cases stipulated by the law, the right to physical safety, privacy (testifying under a pseudonym, via a video link, with a disguised voice and appearance); right to enter a witness protection programme if their life is in danger;
- to express unease to the judicial panel / court during testimony before the public or the defendant;
- to inform the court of the inability to appear in court due to their psychophysical state;
- to reimbursement of the expenses of going to court.