What happens if I am summoned as a witness in a criminal case?

Yes, once you've been properly summoned as a witness, you are generally legally required to appear before the court on the specified date — failing to do so without valid reason can result in further legal consequences, including a warrant being issued to compel your appearance.

As a witness, you'll typically be asked to take an oath to tell the truth, and then examined by the party that summoned you (examination-in-chief), followed by cross-examination from the opposing side, where they may ask more challenging questions to test your account.

It's important to answer truthfully and to the best of your actual knowledge and recollection — giving deliberately false testimony can itself amount to the separate offence of perjury. If you have genuine concerns about your safety, availability, or the process itself, you can raise these with the court or the lawyer who summoned you, and in some cases, seek guidance from a lawyer yourself about your rights and obligations as a witness.