Inexpert witnesses

Nine murder convictions are to be reviewed because of doubts over expert evidence from Dr Michael Heath, a presumably still incompetent, but now ex-Home Office, pathologist. Talking to BBC Radio, David Jessel, a Criminal Cases Review Commission official, said that he also ...

had a general concern about the use of expert witnesses in the "gladiatorial" English legal system. "In particular in the area of shaken baby syndrome, there are many people who have been convicted on dogmatic scientific certainties which are no longer really sustainable".

It has taken a long time, but at least the message is getting through: theory is not to be mistaken for fact, however eminent the expert.

Previously on CS:

Marianne Williams 2: medical, legal and police stupidity.

Marianne Williams: not guilty.

Roy Meadow

Tags: Judiciary