CCTV Footage & Non-Expert Opinion Evidence
In what circumstances may a lay-witness be permitted to give evidence of what he/she perceives from CCTV footage, and when does such evidence become inadmissible opinion evidence from a non-expert?
Trial Advocacy
Lies, Unsafe Convictions, and Closing Speeches
In sexual misconduct cases one is often faced with a classic ‘swearing match’ – where one person (the complainant) gives evidence that the misconduct happened, and one other person (the accused) says that it did not. I am often thereby reminded of the case of Hannon (facts below) and often wish I could bring that case to the attention of the jury. May I, properly, do so?
Wellman: The Art of Cross-Examination
A classic text for trial lawyers and law students (published in 1903) on how to cross-examine witnesses.
United States -v- Bankman-Fried
I’ve been following the FTX Trial in New York and it has made for interesting (if sometimes cringeworthy) reading. There are numerous ways to follow the trial, and to learn more about the background, and I’ve collected some of those sources here together with some background information.
Challenging forensic evidence in court
Judges and juries can literally be ‘blinded by science’ when listening to forensic evidence at trial. Here’s how to debunk the CSI Myth.
The Art of Advocacy
At law school you learn the law, which is a tool and not a skill. Advocacy is a barrister’s core skill, and it’s an art that is often undervalued or ignored.