Criminal Evidence presents a critical commentary on the rules and
principles regulating the admissibility of evidence and the processes of
fact-finding in English criminal trials. The existing legal rules and
their underlying values are fully contextualized and evaluated, and
opportunities for reform are systematically examined.
Practical issues of inference and fact-finding are covered in detail, as
are the moral and political foundations of evidentiary rules.
Theoretical and doctrinal innovation in the presumption of innocence,
privilege against self-incrimination, improperly obtained evidence,
witness examination, hearsay, character, and the law of corroboration
are considered, taking full account of the statutory reforms of the
Criminal Justice Act 2003 and subsequent case law.
As a contribution to procedural scholarship, Criminal Evidence
presents a distinctive vision and stakes out new territory in the law of
evidence and proof. Highly engaging, stimulating and provocative,
Criminal Evidence provides the ideal text for any student who wishes
to gain a detailed understanding of the principles that underlie the law
of criminal procedure and evidence. It also provides a valuable source
of analysis and commentary for legal practitioners and scholars
specializing in criminal litigation, and contributes towards a critical
evaluation of recent statutory reforms and their judicial
interpretation.
