Police v Grootjans - [1989] 3 NZLR 587

Criminal law — Evidence — Confession — Admissibility — Naval rating confessed to assault after having been told by Master at Arms to tell the truth to the police — Whether confession was made under compulsion — Whether confession was admissible — Evidence Act 1908, s 20.

Criminal law — Practice and procedure — Voir dire at summary trial — Admissibility of confession — District Court Judge deferred ruling on admissibility of defendant's confession until defendant had given evidence — Whether such deferment infringed defendant's right to have prosecution's case presented before being called upon to answer — Whether voir dire was permissible in summary trial — Whether Judge should have held a voir dire to determine admissibility — Summary Proceedings Act 1957, s 67.