Competency and compellability of husband and wife and of parties in common law union in criminal cases

(1) A husband or a wife shall be a– (a) competent and compellable witness to give evidence on behalf of either or any of the parties in any criminal proceedings against a wife or a husband mentioned in Part I of Schedule II; (b) competent, but not a compellable, witness to give evidence on behalf of either or any of the parties in any of the criminal proceedings against a wife or a husband mentioned in Part II of Schedule II. (2) Either of the parties to a common law union shall be a– (a) competent and compellable witness to give evidence on behalf of the other party in any criminal proceedings against the other mentioned in Part I of Schedule II; 34 (b) competent, but not a compellable, witness to give evidence on behalf of the other party in any of the criminal proceedings against the other mentioned in Part II of Schedule II.