Subjects:

Evidence

Contents:

Giving Evidence

Burden of Proof

Examination and Cross Examination of Witnesses

Evidence of Character in Criminal proceedings

Hearsay

The Questioning of Suspects

Appendixes.

Criminal Evidence in Context provides students with an accessible and comprehensive analysis of the key principles in the law of criminal evidence in England and Wales against the backdrop of their broader practical and theoretical contexts. It aims to engage readers with an informative and thought-provoking account of the key rules and principles which govern testimony in the criminal trial, including hearsay evidence, the admissibility of confession evidence, bad character evidence and the burden of proof.

The text takes account of recent legal and doctrinal developments in the field and integrates discussion of the European Convention of Human Rights and post-Human Rights Act cases where relevant. The impact of recent profound changes brought about by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 and the Criminal Justice Act 2003 are also examined, and critical commentary is provided on a number of recent Court of Appeal and House of Lords judgments (e.g. Camberwell Green Youth Court, Johnstone, Sheldrake, Hayter).