A “special hearing” is a process where the evidence of a child or a cognitively impaired complainant being questioned by counsel is taped and then shown to the jury at a later point.
If there are re-trials then the same tape is played to the new jury.
In a special hearing case, that process of the complainant giving evidence usually occurs immediately before the jury are empaneled. The complainant or complainants who are the subject of special hearings will give their evidence over videolink. They are not in the actual Court building and they are unable to see the accused.
The special hearing tape will be edited (within about 72 hours) to take out material that is not relevant or is objectionable in some form or another.
