Fiches Belges: Lithuania
Hearing children (705) 1. MEASURE IMPLEMENTATION |
Is this measure possible in your Member State under International Judicial Cooperation? | Yes. Specific rules for the hearing of juvenile (persons under 18 years of age) witnesses are established in order to protect their rights and to avoid undesirable psychical influence on them. A witness or a victim younger than eighteen years old is usually questioned not more than once during pre-trial investigation. In case a repeated questioning of a witness or victim who is younger than eighteen years old is necessary during pre-trial investigation, they are usually questioned by the same person. Their questioning may be video and audio recorded. In case a suspect or his/her defence counsel takes part in the questioning of a witness or victim who is younger than eighteen years old, the pre-trial judge must ensure that such witness or victim does not sustain any unlawful impact. A witness or victim who is younger than eighteen years old is summoned to the trial hearing only in exceptional cases. If a suspect is likely to influence a witness or victim who is younger than eighteen years old, the pre-trial judge renders a ruling not to allow the suspect to take part in the questioning. In such a case, questioning must be video and audio recorded. The representative of a witness or victim who is younger than eighteen years old has the right to take part in his/her questioning. On the initiative of participants in the proceedings or of a pre-trial investigation officer, a prosecutor or a pre-trial investigation judge, a representative from the state institution of the child's rights protection or a psychologist must be called to attend the questioning of a witness or a victim younger than eighteen years old to help question the minor taking into account his/her social and psychological maturity.
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2. LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
International legal framework applicable for this measure in your Member State | See 702.
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3. COMPETENT AUTHORITY TO: |
* receive the request/decision for judicial cooperation | See 702.
| * execute/recognise the measure (if other than the receiving authority) | Pre-trial investigation judge.
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4. ACCEPTED LANGUAGES |
Accepted languages for the request/decision | See 702.
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5. EXECUTION DEADLINE |
Deadlines for the execution of the request/decision (where applicable) | N/A.
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6. CONCISE LEGAL PRACTICAL INFORMATION |
a. Special requirements | N/A | b. Other useful information | N/A |
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