Kununurra Court gets new facility for victims of crime

16/11/07
A new facility has been installed at the Kununurra Court to give victims of crime greater protection when giving evidence in court.
Attorney General Jim McGinty today announced that a new remote witness facility was now operating at the Kununurra court-house.
"Kununurra is the fourth regional court to get the new facilities this year, joining Karratha, Carnarvon and Esperance as part of a $1million regional roll-out of the new technology," Mr McGinty said.
Based in a specially fitted out room at Kununurra's Coolibah Drive court-house, the high-tech audio-visual system allows vulnerable witnesses, such as victims of crime, to give evidence in a separate room.
The new equipment includes a video display system with large display screens, a new audio system and a CCTV connection to the remote witness room.
Before the upgrade, the court relied on a basic video-conferencing unit wheeled around on a trolley.
The Attorney General said remote witness facilities could be used to protect vulnerable witnesses such as children, people suffering mental illness, and victims of family violence or sexual assault.
"This new facility will allow victims to avoid the anxiety they would experience from face-to-face contact with their alleged assailant," he said.
Kimberley MP Carol Martin welcomed the new technology, saying it could also save some witnesses time and money in travelling long distances to testify in courts, as pre-recorded video testimony could be played to a court instead of a witness appearing in person.
Mr McGinty said remote witness facilities were already available at Albany, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury, Busselton, Geraldton, South Hedland and Broome courts, as well as in some Perth criminal courts.
Attorney General's office: 9422 3000