Statement taken from persons dangerously ill

In relation to the statement of a witness taken under section 31 if, upon the trial of any accused person of a crime to which such statement relates, it is proved that the person who made the statement is dead, or that there is no reasonable probability that he will ever be able to travel or to give evidence, or that after making the statement he left Belize and is not likely to return to Belize, it shall be lawful 82 to read such statement as evidence at the trial, either for or against the accused, without further proof thereof, if the court is satisfied that the accused will not be materially prejudiced by the reception of such evidence.