A witness in a criminal case may be cross-examined as to previous statements made by him in writing or reduced into writing, relative to the subject matter of the proceeding, without such writing being shown to him; but if it is intended to contradict such witness by the writing, his attention must, before such contradictory proof can be given, be called to the particular occasion on which the writing is supposed to have been made, and he may be asked if he did not make a writing of the purport of the one to be offered to contradict him, and if he denies making it, or does not admit its execution, it shall then be shown to him, and if he admits its genuineness, he shall be allowed to make his own explanation of it; but it shall be competent for the court at any time during the trial to require the production of the writing for its inspection, and the court may thereupon make such use of it for the purpose of the trial as it may think best.
Code 1950, § 8-293; 1958, c. 380; 1960, c. 114; 1964, c. 356; 1977, c. 624.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 19.2 - Criminal Procedure
Chapter 16 - Evidence and Witnesses
§ 19.2-267.1. Authority of law-enforcement officer to issue summons to witness; failure to appear
§ 19.2-267.2. Response to subpoena for information stored in electronic format
§ 19.2-268. Right of accused to testify
§ 19.2-268.3. Admissibility of statements by children in certain cases
§ 19.2-269. Convicts as witnesses (Supreme Court Rule 2:609 derived from this section)
§ 19.2-269.1. Inmates as witnesses in criminal cases
§ 19.2-269.2. Nondisclosure of addresses or telephone numbers of crime victims and witnesses
§ 19.2-270. When statement by accused as witness not received as evidence
§ 19.2-270.1. Use of photographs as evidence in certain larceny and burglary prosecutions
§ 19.2-270.1:1. Computer and electronic data in obscenity, etc. cases; access to defendant
§ 19.2-270.3. Admissible evidence as to identity of party presenting bad check, draft or order
§ 19.2-270.4. When donation, destruction, or return of exhibits received in evidence authorized
§ 19.2-270.4:1. Storage, preservation and retention of human biological evidence in felony cases
§ 19.2-270.5. DNA profile admissible in criminal proceeding
§ 19.2-271.1. Competency of spouses to testify
§ 19.2-271.4. Privileged communications by certain public safety personnel
§ 19.2-271.5. Protected information; newspersons engaged in journalism
§ 19.2-271.6. Evidence of defendant's mental condition admissible; notice to Commonwealth
§ 19.2-273. Certificate that witness is needed in another state; hearing
§ 19.2-274. When court to order witness to attend
§ 19.2-276. Penalty for failure to attend and testify
§ 19.2-277. Summoning witnesses in another state to testify in this Commonwealth
§ 19.2-279. Penalty for failure of such witnesses to testify
§ 19.2-280. Exemption of such witnesses from arrest or service of process