Witness Testimony in Sexual Cases

Reviews / Votes

Witness Testimony in Sexual Cases provides a wide-ranging and lucid analysis of the investigation and prosecution of sexual offenses. It is an invaluable source-book for legal practitioners, socio-legal scholars, criminology, law and psychology students ... In the light of a dramatic increase in prosecutions regarding historical sexual abuse, this book is also essential reading for prosecutors, defence lawyers and trial judges. * Dr Kevin Felstead, British False Memory Society * This book is itself a reflection of changing attitudes on the part of investigators, medics and lawyers. The need for an inter-disciplinary approach to achieving best evidence is emphasised throughout. The editors are to be commended on gathering so many experts in their field and for marshalling their essays into a readable house style.This is a highly original book which combines evidential, investigatory and scientific perspectives. All parties engaged in this highly sensitive and difficult area of law will benefit from reading it. * Neil Corre, Barrister, Redbourne Chambers * Understanding the difficulties faced by vulnerable and intimidated victims is essential to improving our service to them. This book will help investigators, lawyers and advocates to understand factors that can improve the quality of witness testimony in these complex cases. * Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions * Like never before, there is a need for the conscientious practitioner in cases of a sexual nature to ensure that they are armed with the essentials of trial preparation and the practice of advocacy in this field. This work undoubtedly deserves to sit alongside Rook and Ward and the Toolkits from the Advocatesa Gateway on the practitioner's shelf, such is its worth and weight. * Tony Cross QC, former Chairman, Criminal Bar Association * It would be difficult to find a more lucid analysis of statutory provision and of authority which can then be applied to the working day in Crown Courts nationwide. Struggling with the intractable is suddenly less worrying - it might not be intractable at all, given the accrued wisdom scholarship and good sense these pages offer. * The Right Honourable Lady Justice Rafferty QC, Chairman of the Board of the Judicial College of England and Wales * This book is a wonderful resource and required reading for anyone who wants to understand this important subject. It combines a wealth of valuable information from different disciplines with great practical insight. * His Honour Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, the Recorder of London * This is a 'must-read' book for all legal justice professionals, and experts, concerned with sexual cases. It is written in a simple, comprehensible way by leading academics, authoritative experts and senior practitioners. The diverse background of the contributing authors leads to a refreshing mix of styles, akin to attending a conference with a variety of speakers. Witness Testimony in Sexual Cases identifies and achieves the difficult task of bridging the knowledge gap that sometimes exists between the law and science in courts, especially in relation to the psychological sciences. The short chapters make the messages contained within them very easy to absorb. The international comparative perspective provides a stimulating and added dynamic to the text. This book will be an invaluable resource for every lawyer and justice professional, whether in the family, criminal or regulatory arena. * Leslie Cuthbert, Vice-Chair of the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates * The investigation and prosecution of sexual offences presents a unique challenge for all those involved in the criminal justice system including police officers, lawyers and juries. This book provides very useful guidance and advice to those practitioners who wrestle daily with the complexities of understanding and explaining context around issues such as memory recall and managing the vulnerabilities of witnesses, and then navigating them through what can be a harrowing process. Additionally, for leaders and policy makers alike, it raises important challenges for our continued efforts to develop a system that provides the support, and, more importantly, the justice that victims deserve. * Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt QPM, National Policing Lead for Adult Sexual Offences *