REFLECTIONS REGARDING THE WITNESS'S RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION

Considered for a long time as the „eyes and ears of justice″, the witness has become a procedural subject around which several controversies have arisen since the entry into effect of Law no. 135/2010 on the Criminal Procedure Code. The suspected witness, the one against whom further criminal prose...

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Main Authors: Luminița CRIȘTIU-NINU, Cătălin-Nicolae MAGDALENA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nicolae Titulescu University Publishing House 2023-06-01
Series:Challenges of the Knowledge Society
Subjects:
Online Access:http://cks.univnt.ro/download/cks_2023_articles%252F1_CKS_2023_CRIMINAL_LAW%252FCKS_2023_CRIMINAL_LAW_003.pdf
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author Luminița CRIȘTIU-NINU
Cătălin-Nicolae MAGDALENA
author_facet Luminița CRIȘTIU-NINU
Cătălin-Nicolae MAGDALENA
author_sort Luminița CRIȘTIU-NINU
collection DOAJ
description Considered for a long time as the „eyes and ears of justice″, the witness has become a procedural subject around which several controversies have arisen since the entry into effect of Law no. 135/2010 on the Criminal Procedure Code. The suspected witness, the one against whom further criminal prosecution has not yet been ordered, has acquired a distinct position, shaped by the ECtHR jurisprudence and redefined by CCR dec. no. 236/2020. Although the ECtHR has repeatedly ruled that the guarantees of fairness in proceedings apply once an accusation is formulated, it has also recognized these same guarantees for individuals who are heard as witnesses, but are simultaneously suspected of committing offenses. Even after the official release of the constitutional court’s decision, there are a series of aspects that automatically, are rising debates and controversies, with the most important one being whether there is a genuine right for the witness to remain silent. Has the phrase „cannot be used against them″ in art. 118 CPP become predictable and, at the same time, a barrier against potential abuses? Can a „right to silence and non-self-incrimination″ be recognized ab initio? The balance between the general interest of a fair conduct of the criminal proceedings and the rights of the „suspected″ witness has required and continues to require practical solutions from the judicial authorities, ensuring that the right to defense and the right to a fair trial are respected.
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spelling doaj-art-eaafd6ae59be4a8a9d23c39584567ea92025-01-02T22:39:23ZengNicolae Titulescu University Publishing HouseChallenges of the Knowledge Society2068-77962023-06-011613143REFLECTIONS REGARDING THE WITNESS'S RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATIONLuminița CRIȘTIU-NINU0Cătălin-Nicolae MAGDALENA1Lecturer PhD, Faculty of Law, „Nicolae Titulescu” University of Bucharest (e-mail: luminita.cristiu@scj.ro).PhD Candidate, Faculty of Law, „Nicolae Titulescu” University of Bucharest (e-mail: magdalena.catalin@gmail.com).Considered for a long time as the „eyes and ears of justice″, the witness has become a procedural subject around which several controversies have arisen since the entry into effect of Law no. 135/2010 on the Criminal Procedure Code. The suspected witness, the one against whom further criminal prosecution has not yet been ordered, has acquired a distinct position, shaped by the ECtHR jurisprudence and redefined by CCR dec. no. 236/2020. Although the ECtHR has repeatedly ruled that the guarantees of fairness in proceedings apply once an accusation is formulated, it has also recognized these same guarantees for individuals who are heard as witnesses, but are simultaneously suspected of committing offenses. Even after the official release of the constitutional court’s decision, there are a series of aspects that automatically, are rising debates and controversies, with the most important one being whether there is a genuine right for the witness to remain silent. Has the phrase „cannot be used against them″ in art. 118 CPP become predictable and, at the same time, a barrier against potential abuses? Can a „right to silence and non-self-incrimination″ be recognized ab initio? The balance between the general interest of a fair conduct of the criminal proceedings and the rights of the „suspected″ witness has required and continues to require practical solutions from the judicial authorities, ensuring that the right to defense and the right to a fair trial are respected.http://cks.univnt.ro/download/cks_2023_articles%252F1_CKS_2023_CRIMINAL_LAW%252FCKS_2023_CRIMINAL_LAW_003.pdfcriminal casewitnessstatementprivilege against self-incriminationright to remain silentperjury
spellingShingle Luminița CRIȘTIU-NINU
Cătălin-Nicolae MAGDALENA
REFLECTIONS REGARDING THE WITNESS'S RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION
Challenges of the Knowledge Society
criminal case
witness
statement
privilege against self-incrimination
right to remain silent
perjury
title REFLECTIONS REGARDING THE WITNESS'S RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION
title_full REFLECTIONS REGARDING THE WITNESS'S RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION
title_fullStr REFLECTIONS REGARDING THE WITNESS'S RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION
title_full_unstemmed REFLECTIONS REGARDING THE WITNESS'S RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION
title_short REFLECTIONS REGARDING THE WITNESS'S RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION
title_sort reflections regarding the witness s right against self incrimination
topic criminal case
witness
statement
privilege against self-incrimination
right to remain silent
perjury
url http://cks.univnt.ro/download/cks_2023_articles%252F1_CKS_2023_CRIMINAL_LAW%252FCKS_2023_CRIMINAL_LAW_003.pdf
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