Court of General Gaol Delivery

As a victim of a crime, your evidence is needed to establish, beyond reasonable doubt, if the defendant is guilty of the crime they are charged with.

If you have never been to court before you might not know what to expect. The following will give you an idea of what you might expect.

Victim Support has produced an information leaflet for witnesses and victims going to court in the Isle of Man. These leaflets can be found at the public counter.

What should I do when I get to court?

When you arrive at the courthouse you will have to pass through security. You should then go to the courthouse reception. The receptionist will advise you which courtroom your case is in and where to wait. The prosecution may have booked a witness room, if they have you will be directed to this room. You must wait there until you are called.

Who will be in the courtroom?

A trial in the Court of General Gaol Delivery is an 'open' court. This means you should expect to see the following people in the courtroom:

• the Deemster
• the  defendant  
• the prosecution
• the jury
• the court clerk
• the court usher
• the media (newspapers, radio, etc)
• the dock officer
• any members of the public sitting in the public gallery.

What do I call the judge?

The judge in the Court of General Gaol Delivery is a Deemster, and is addressed as "Your Honour".

My Evidence

Your name will called when it is time to give your evidence. The court usher will lead you to the witness box in the courtroom.

You must be sworn in before you give your evidence. To do this you will be asked to take the oath on a Holy Book of your religion, or you can affirm (promise) to tell the truth. The court usher will usually check with you before court which you want to do. You must read aloud from the oath/affirmation card. If you have trouble reading the card, the court usher will read it to you, you must repeat what they say.

Advocates for the prosecution and the defence will then ask you questions:

• the prosecution will firstly take you through your evidence

• the defence advocate will then ask you some questions (cross-examine)

• the prosecution will then have a chance to ask you some further questions (re-examine)

• the Deemster may, if he wishes, ask you any further questions.

After you have finished giving your evidence, the Deemster will formally release you as a witness and then you may leave the courthouse, or if you wish, sit in the public gallery and listen to the hearing.

Please be aware that, under section 27(4) of the High Court Act 1991, all court proceedings are digitally recorded. For further information please refer to our In-Court Technology section. 

If you are called as a witness in a criminal case it may mean that you:

• have seen or heard something in connection with the case

• have information about someone who is a party to the case

• you are party to the case.

If you have been summonsed to court as a witness you must attend court on the date and time specified on the witness summons.

Victim support produce an information leaflet for witnesses and victims going to court in the Isle of Man. These leaflets can be found at the courthouse reception.

How do I get to court?

The High Court is located on Deemsters Walk, just off Bucks Road.  

What do I do when I get to court?

When you arrive at the courthouse you will have to pass through security. Once you have passed through security, you should go to the main courthouse reception. The receptionist will tell you which courtroom your case is in and where to wait.

The prosecution and defence advocates may each have booked a witness room. If a room has been booked you will be directed to one of these, and must wait in there until you are called to give your evidence. Sometimes a witness room will have been booked by Victim Support. If this is the case you will be greeted by a member of Victim Support either at reception or on the concourse outside the courtroom and shown to the relevant room to wait until you are called to give your evidence.

The hearing

When it is your turn to give evidence you will be called and lead to the witness box in the courtroom.

You must be sworn in before you give your evidence. To do this you will be asked to take the oath on a Holy Book of your religion, or you can affirm (promise) to tell the truth. The court usher will usually check with you before court which you want to do. You must read aloud from the oath/affirmation card. If you have trouble reading the card, the court usher will read it to you, you must repeat what they say.

Who will be in court?

In the courtroom there will be:

• the Deemster
• the  defendant
• the public (seated in the public gallery) and may include family and friends of the defendant and victim’s family
• the jury
• the court clerk
• the court usher
• any media (newspapers/radio, etc)
• the dock officer
• advocates for the prosecution and the defence.

What should I call the judge?

The judge in the Court of General Gaol is a Deemster and is addressed as Your Honour

My evidence

During the hearing, advocates for both the prosecution and the defence will ask you questions.

If you are a witness for the prosecution:

• the prosecution advocate will go through your evidence first

• the defence advocate will then ask you some questions in reply (cross-examine)

• the prosecution will then have a chance to ask you any further questions (re-examine)

• the Deemster then may ask you any questions he wishes.

If you are a witness for the defence:

• the defence advocate will go through your evidence first

• the prosecution advocate will then ask you some questions in reply (cross-examine)

• the defence advocate may then ask you any further questions (re-examine)

• the Deemster then may ask you any questions he wishes.

After you have finished giving your evidence, the Deemster will formally release you as a witness and then you may leave the courthouse, or if you wish, sit in the public gallery and listen to the hearing.

Please be aware that, under section 27(4) of the High Court Act 1991, all court proceedings are digitally recorded. For further information please refer to our In-Court Technology section.

What do I do when I get to court?

If you are on bail then you must attend the courthouse in plenty of time for your court hearing.

When you arrive at the courthouse you will have to pass through security.

Once you and your advocate have arrived, you should report to the main courthouse reception. The receptionist will tell you which courtroom your case is in and where to wait.

When it is time for the hearing you will be called and escorted to the dock.

Who will be in court?

In court there will be:

• the Deemster

• the jury (if you are in court for trial by jury)

• your advocate

• the advocate for the prosecution

• generally any members of the public sitting in the public gallery (although there are a few occasions where the public are restricted from sitting in)

• the media and reporters (newspaper and radio)

• the court usher

• the court clerk

• the dock officer.

What should I call the judge?

The judge in the Court of General Gaol is a Deemster and is addressed as "Your Honour".

What happens in the courtroom?

If you are in court to enter your plea, for a bail matter or for sentence, you will remain in the dock. If you have an advocate, they will speak on your behalf and will inform you if you do need to speak.

If you are in court for a hearing or jury trial, the prosecution and defence advocates will set out their arguments. They may also call and question witnesses.

If you are asked to give evidence, you must be sworn in. To do this you will be asked to take the oath on a Holy Book of your religion, or you can affirm (promise) to tell the truth. The court usher will usually check with you before court which you want to do. You must read aloud from the oath/affirmation card. If you have trouble reading the card, the court usher will read it to you, you must repeat what they say.

The prosecution and defence advocates will then ask you some questions:

• the defence advocate (your advocate) will go through your evidence first and ask you any questions

• the prosecution advocate will then ask you any questions they wish to (cross-examine)

• the defence advocate will then have the chance to ask you any further questions (re-examine)

• the Deemster will ask you any questions he wishes to ask.

What happens after the hearing?

At the end of the hearing, if you are remanded in custody you will be taken straight to prison. If you are granted bail:-

• for the first time then you will be required to sign a new bail bond before you are allowed to leave the courthouse, or

• on a continuing bail bond with the same terms and conditions then those continue to apply; or

• if the bail terms and conditions are varied then you will be required to sign the bail variation before you are allowed to leave the courthouse.

Please be aware that, under section 27(4) of the High Court Act 1991, all court proceedings are digitally recorded. For further information please refer to our In-Court Technology section.