The Courts-Martial Appeal (Amendment) Rules 1997
These Rules amend the Courts-Martial Appeal Rules 1968. They change the time limit for presentation of a petition before the exercise of a right of appeal to 28 days in all cases, consequent on the abolition of the requirement for findings of army and air force courts-martial to be confirmed by the appropriate officer. They also make provision for applications under section 32(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (evidence through television links where witness is outside the country where the court is sitting and such evidence by child witnesses) and section 32A of that Act (video recordings of testimony from child witnesses). Rights of audience in the Courts-Martial Appeal Court have been extended to include all those who have rights of audience in the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal. Some minor drafting changes have been made.