Art. 650 Reference to experts. — CRIMINAL CODE

(1) In all cases where for the examination of any person

or thing special knowledge or skill is required, a reference to

experts shall be ordered.

CRIMINAL CODE

(2)

The experts shall be chosen by the court

Provided that the Minister responsible for Justice may, after

consultation with the Chief Justice, appoint one or more persons as

official experts for the purpose of reporting on matters required by

other provisions of this Code requiring special technical skill or

knowledge, and when such persons are appointed, the court shall

choose such experts from among those persons who may be on a

roster system.

(3) For the purposes of article 533, the fees of the official

experts for services rendered in any particular case shall be taxed

by the registrar in the same manner provided for the taxation of the

fees due to other experts.

(4) As a rule the experts shall be appointed in an uneven

number.

(5) The court shall, whenever it is expedient, give to the

experts the necessary directions, and allow them a time within

which to make their report.

The Court of Magistrates, whether sitting as a court of criminal

judicature or as a court of inquiry, may moreover empower the

expert or the experts, if more than one expert have been appointed,

to receive documents and to examine witnesses on oath in the

presence of the accused and, in any such case, the court shall not

require further evidence in respect of the documents so produced or

further examine the witnesses so examined, unless the court deems

it necessary or unless the accused makes a request to that effect.

Where more than one expert have been appointed, the court shall

designate the expert who is empowered to administer the oath.

(6) The Court’s decision to appoint experts shall be reduced to

writing and shall be served on the experts so appointed.

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