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Witness Testimony

Witness Testimony Psychological, Investigative and Evidential Perspectives

Author: Anthony Heaton-Armstrong; Eric Shepherd; Gisli Gudjonsson; David Wolchover
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780199278091
Published In: October 2006
Format: Paperback , 498 pages
Jurisdiction: U.K. ? Disclaimer:
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Provides comprehensive coverage of the complex and controversial topic of witness testimony across the complete spectrum of practitioner involvement in the criminal justice process
Written by a large author team comprised of many of the leading names in criminal evidence law and forensic psychology including; Lord Bingham of Cornhill; Dr Eric Shepherd; and Professor Elizabeth Loftus
Logically divided into three parts, looking in turn at each of the three inter-related perspectives upon a witness' account; psychological, investigative, and evidential
Written in a clear and accessible style
Builds on the content and structure of its ground-breaking predecessor Analysing Witness Testimony: A Guide for Legal Practitioners and Other Professionals (Blackstone Press, March 1999)

Testimonial evidence remains the greatest source of information available to those who try cases in court.

Witness Testimony: Psychological, Investigative, and Evidential Perspectives

provides a comprehensive and easily accessible guide to the decision-making and actions of the complete spectrum of practitioner involvement in the criminal justice process, right from initial investigation through to court-room proceedings.

It builds on the content and structure of its ground-breaking predecessor

Analysing Witness Testimony: A Guide for Legal Practitioners and Other Professionals

(Blackstone Press, March 1999), and consists of 25 chapters written by an expert author team of practitioner and academic lawyers, forensic psychiatrists, and psychologists. The team is led by criminal evidence specialist barristers Anthony Heaton-Armstrong and David Wolchover, chartered forensic psychologist Dr Eric Shepherd, and Professor of Forensic Psychology, Gisli Gudjonnson.

The book is logically divided into three sections, looking in turn at each of the three inter-related perspectives upon a witness' account; psychological, investigative, and evidential. Section One explains and examines psychological issues, including; witness memory; the effect of learning disabilities; false allegations of sexual assault; and the effect of physical factors such as head injuries and drugs. Section Two covers the crucial investigative issues and concerns in respect of false allegations; the impact of investigative and questioning style upon children and vulnerable persons; memory performace of witnesses; and linguistic interpretations. Section Three explores evidential issues such as; visual identification procedures; the status of witness demeanour; the reliability of oral evidence; the relevance of information technology to presentation of evidence; disclosure; the use of expert evidence; and judicial training.

The book will therefore be indispensable to all those involved in the resolution of contentious or disputed evidence, including; members of the judiciary and legal practitioners; crime investigators; and forensic psychologists and psychiatrists.

Readership: Primary: The judiciary; criminal law practitioners; prosecution and investigative agencies; and forensic pyschiatrists and psychologists. Secondary: Academics with an interest in the field.

Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Section 1: Psychological Perspectives
1: Elizabeth F. Loftus, David Wolchover and Douglas Page: General Review of the Psychology of Witness Testimony
2: Aldert Vrij: Detecting Deception in Legal Contexts
3: Glynis H. Murphy and Isabel C.H. Clare: The Effect of Learning Disabilities on Witness Testimony
4: Gisli H. Gudjonsson: The Psychological Vulnerabilities of Witnesses and The Risk of False Accusations and False Confessions
5: H. Valerie Curran: Effects of Drugs on Witness Memory
6: Chris R. Brewin: Recovered Memory and False Memory
7: Sven A. Christianson, Harald Merckelbach and Michael Kopelman: Crime Related Amnesia
Section 2: Investigative Perspectives
8: Eric Shepherd and Rebecca Milne: 'Have you told Management about this?': Bringing Witness Interviewing into the 21st Century
9: Graham Davies and Helen Westcott: Investigative Interviewing with Children: Progress and Pitfalls
10: Anthony Heaton-Armstrong, David Wolchover and Annabel Maxwell-Scott: Obtaining, Recording and Admissibility of Out-of-Court Witness Statements
11: David Wolchover and Anthony Heaton-Armstrong: Oral Confessions to Non-Investigator Witnesses
12: Ann Corsellis and Amanda Clement: Interpreters and Translators in The Criminal Legal Process
13: Jim Kyle: Witnesses who use British Sign Language
14: Peter French and Philip Harrison: Investigative and Evidential Applications of Forensic Speech Science
15: Tim Grant: Identifying the Origins of Evidential Texts
Section 3: Evidential Perspectives
16: Tim Valentine: Forensic Facial Identification
17: David Wolchover and Anthony Heaton-Armstrong: Improving Visual Identification Procedures under PACE Code D
18: Tom Bingham: Assessing Contentious Eyewitness Evidence: A Judicial View
19: Saul Kassin: Judging Eyewitnesses, Confessions, Informants and Alibis: What is Wrong with Juries and Can they do Better?
20: Peter Dunn and Eric Shepherd: Oral Testimony from The Witness's Perspective - Psychological and Forensic Considerations
21: Anthony Heaton-Armstrong, David Corker and David Wolchover: Disclosure of Unused Material by Prosecution Authorities and Third Parties
22: David Ormerod and Andrew Roberts: The Admissibility of Expert Evidence
25: William Young and Sam Katkhuda: Judicial Training

Edited by Anthony Heaton-Armstrong, Barrister, 9-12 Bell Yard, Gray's Inn, Eric Shepherd, Chartered forensic psychologist and chartered counselling psychologist, Gisli Gudjonsson, Professor of Forensic Psychology at the University of London, and David Wolchover, Barrister, 7 Bell Yard

Contributors:

Chris Brewin (Dr., Clinical Health Psychology Department, University College London)

Sven Christianson (Professor of Psychology, Stockholm University)

Isabel Clare (Dr., Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge)

Amanda Clement (Linguistic and Forensic Medical Services, New Scotland Yard)

David Corker (Partner, Corker Binning Solicitors)

Valerie Curran (Professor of Psychopharmacology, University College London)

Ann Corsellis (OBE, Chartered Institute of Linguists)

Malcolm Coulthard (Professor of Forensic Linguistics, Birmingham University)

Graham Davies (Professor of Psychology, University of Leicester)

Peter Dunn (Head of Research & Development Victim Support National Office)

Peter French (Dr., Audio and Forensic Tape Recording Consultant)

Allen Hirson (Dr., Department of Language and Communication Sciences, City University)

Saul Kassin (Professor of Psychology, Williams College, Massachusetts)

Sam Katkhuda (His Honour Judge)

Michael Kopelman (Professor, Academic Unit of Psychiatry, St. Thomas Hospital)

Jim Kyle (Professor, Centre for Deaf Studies, University of Bristol)

Elizabeth Loftus (Professor of Psychology and Social Behaviour, Criminology, Law and Society, University of California)

Annabel Maxwell-Scott (barrister, 9-12 Bell Yard)

Harald Merckelbach (Professor of Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University)

Rebecca Milne (Dr., Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth)

Glynis Murphy (Professor of Clinical Psychology of Learning Disability, Institute for Health Research, Lancaster University)

David Ormerod (Professor of Law, University of Leeds)

Andrew Parker (Detective Chief Inspector, New Scotland Yard)

Dr John Pearse

Andrew Roberts (Lecturer in Law, University of Leeds)

Tim Valentine (Professor and Head of Psychology Department, University of London)

Aldert Vrij (Lecturer in Psychology, University of Portsmouth)

Helen Westcott (Lecturer in Psychology, The Open University)

Daniel B Wright (Lecturer in Psychology, University of Sussex)

William Young (Lord Justice, Court of Appeal, New Zealand)

"'I can think of no other book like it in terms of accessibility, breadth, relevance and perhpas most importantly ethos - to achieve truth.' ( John Cooper, Barrister, New Law Journal, 2008)"

"'This is a book great value and interest to anyone engaged in the practice or study of the law.' ( Justice of the Peace, October 2007)"

"'This highly original and relevant work signposts the way forward in the examination of witnesses. The area of how we should treat live evidence is a prominent and growing area of concern, and the publication of the book is both timely and essential. The empasis of the work is upon the victim. Indeed, the textbook is dedicated to "victims, whether of crime or miscarriage of justice". ( Criminal Bar Quarterly, April 2007)"

"This Book is a worthwhile investment for investigation managers, those responsible for developing and delivering witness interview training and for investigators committed to professionalism'( Dr Harfield of the John Grieve Centre, 12 January 2007)"