Witness with multiple personalities switches identities in court

ABC NEWS (Australia)

In an Australian first a woman with multiple personalities has given evidence in court while switching between identities. She's been called to give testimony in Newcastle against her father who's accused of sexual abuse.

Transcript

00:00The woman, known as LN, has been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder.

00:08When called to give evidence at the District Court in Newcastle, she was sworn in as herself,

00:14but was also asked to take another oath, as she switched identities to become what's

00:19known as her alter, a 13-year-old girl.

00:22The jury here heard the woman created multiple identities.

00:26To survive trauma she endured as a child, allegedly at the hands of her father.

00:31At the switch, LN's voice changed in the witness box, from calm and measured to a girlish

00:38and often brash tone.

00:40It's the first time this kind of evidence has been heard in Australia.

00:44The trial is expected to run for up to eight weeks.

00:48LN's father has pleaded not guilty to the abuse charges.

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