When it’s time to give your evidence, a court usher will collect you from the waiting area and take you to the courtroom.

They’ll show you where to stand – this is called the witness box – and help you take your oath or affirmation, which is your promise to tell the truth. You can either swear on a holy book or make a non-religious affirmation.

Once you’re sworn in, the solicitor who called you as a witness will ask you questions to help you explain what happened. When they finish, the other solicitor will ask questions too – this is called cross-examination. These questions may feel more challenging as the opposing side want to test the credibility of your evidence or highlight any inconsistencies.

If you’re unsure what is being asked, you can ask for the solicitors to repeat a question or to say it in a different way. If you do not know the answer to a question, you can say so: you should never guess or make up an answer if you’re unsure.