The Crown brought an application for an order permitting two child witnesses to testify via closed-circuit television (CCTV) with a support person present.
The accused consented to the use of CCTV but requested that defence counsel be permitted in the room with the witnesses during cross-examination.
The court denied the request, finding that allowing defence counsel in the room would defeat the purpose of section 486.2 of the Criminal Code and cause undue stress to the child witnesses.
The court ordered that the witnesses testify via CCTV with defence counsel remaining in the courtroom.
