We're back in Crown Court for the second part of Kevin's trial. Kevin faces a single count of indecent assault of a male for an act that, if committed today, would constitute rape--oral rape.

Today, we see cross-examination of Paul, the complainant in the case, and the remainder of the prosecution's evidence.

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 

https://amzn.to/49oVqG2

This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales; another rape trial. One that isn't, technically, a rape trial. And one that the mainstream tends to avoid on the basis that cases like this are "different".

Why? Because this is a male rape case. And it involves a complainant who, while an adult when the case is reported, investigated, and tried, was a child at the material time.

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 

https://amzn.to/49oVqG2

This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To vote for Rape on Trial in the Women Podcasters Awards 2026 visit: https://www.womenpodcasters.com/awards-voting

Remember, we're in the Documentary category.

I couldn't be more proud! And I couldn't be more grateful for your continuing support while things have been so quiet.

Follow Rape on Trial on your podcasting platform now to get Episode 16 as soon as it drops.

You can support the show by buying me a coffee via the following link: https://buymeacoffee.com/cjiapodcast

Or visit the show's website and click on the little yellow coffee cup: https://criminaljusticeinaction.com

Thanks for your time, patience, and overwhelming support. We'll be back soon!

Candida

**Listener discretion is advised**

The broader research underpinning Rape on Trial is reported in our book, Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). The book examines cross-examination across the UK and Ireland drawing on trial observations, practitioner interviews, and a linguistic analysis of courtroom exchanges in light of recent reforms.

https://amzn.to/49oVqG2

This is an Amazon affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Follow the show now to get Episode 16 as soon as it drops.

To support the show, please buy me a coffee via the following link: https://buymeacoffee.com/cjiapodcast

Or visit the show's website and click on the little yellow coffee cup: https://criminaljusticeinaction.com

Thanks for your time, patience, and support. We'll be back as soon as we can.

Candida

**Listener discretion is advised**

The broader research underpinning Rape on Trial is reported in our book, Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). The book examines cross-examination across the UK and Ireland drawing on trial observations, practitioner interviews, and a linguistic analysis of courtroom exchanges in light of recent reforms.

https://amzn.to/49oVqG2

This is an Amazon affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back in court for Omar's trial, a case involving a so-called 'real rape'.

We see prosecuting counsel's opening speech followed by a dramatic turn.

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 

https://amzn.to/49oVqG2

This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the dramatic conclusion of Patrick's rape trial, we hear the defence case, prosecution and defence closing speeches through to the jury's verdict.

We examine what makes, or perhaps, what does not make for an effective closing in a rape case and what happens when defence counsel relies on the very rape myths the jury has just been warned against.

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 

https://amzn.to/49oVqG2

This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back in a Crown Court in Northern Ireland for the second part of Patrick's jury trial where he stands accused of a single count of rape.

This episode concentrates on the cross-examination of Caitlin, the complainant in the case, who was heavily intoxicated at the time.

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 

https://amzn.to/49oVqG2

This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back in Crown Court for another rape trial involving an intoxicated complainant. This time, however, we're in Northern Ireland.

Different jurisdiction, but the same issues: rape myths; credibility; and the need to be sure.

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 

https://amzn.to/49oVqG2

This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the final couple of days of Faruq's rape trial. We hear the prosecution and defence counsels' closing speeches followed by judge's directions before the jury retires to deliberate. It's a good day and a half before the jury returns with its unanimous verdict.

While we don't and can't know how they reached their decision, Dr Candida Saunders grapples with the presumption of innocence, the burden and standard of proof as she reflects on how and why she came to the same conclusion as the jury, given the evidence and arguments in the case.

The question isn't whether she's right or wrong. Whether she's got to the truth. It's whether she's sure.

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 

https://amzn.to/49oVqG2

This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back in the public gallery of Crown Court for the third but not, it turns out, final instalment of Faruq’s rape trial. The prosecution concludes its case then it’s time for the jury to hear directly from the defendant himself: his account of that night, his shifting explanations, and the cracks that open up in prosecuting counsel’s cross-examination.

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 

https://amzn.to/49oVqG2

This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.

Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.