Want to see for yourself how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offences?

This episode sees us back in the public gallery of a Crown Court somewhere in England and Wales for the the final couple of days of Faruq's rape trial.

Key topics and elements covered: prosecuting and defence counsel's closing speeches; judge's directions including that 'good character' direction, and a s34 'failure to mention' direction and summary of the evidence; the jury verdict; and reflections as an observer.

Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for anyone interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. It's been described elsewhere as 'think of 24 Hours in Police Custody but in your ears'.

It is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

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.

Want to see for yourself how the criminal process really works in cases of rape and serious sexual offences?

This episode of Rape on Trial sees us 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.

Key topics and issues raised in this episode: the evidence of the investigating officer--evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; more maps; prosecuting counsels' bad character application under s101 Criminal Justice Act 2003; agreed facts including key findings in the report from the forensic medical examination and toxicology; defence request for a good character direction; the defendant's evidence-in-chief; dealing with the defendant's lies at the police station; cross-examination of the accused; the close of the defence case; and discussion of judge's directions including s75 Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for anyone interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. It's been described elsewhere as 'think of 24 Hours in Police Custody but in your ears'.

It is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

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.

Episode 9 of Rape on Trial sees us back in Crown Court for the second day of Faruq's rape trial.

Plunging straight back into cross-examination, the defence sets out to problematise, not the complainant’s credibility, but her reliability—dealing with the evidential difficulties posed by her level of intoxication and its implications re memory fragmentation, confabulation and contamination.

We see how defence advocacy works in practice: how these issues are probed, how ‘false memories’ are argued, how evidence like CCTV footage and cell-site data does not speak for itself, and the inferences juries may be asked to draw in cases where a complainant can’t remember.

This episode examines the messy and emotive reality of rape trials and the sometimes uncomfortable tension between fairness to the accused and compassion for the complainant.

Key topics and elements raised in this episode: cross-examination of the complainant; putting the defence case and the rule in Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R. 67, H.L.; evidence of other prosecution witnesses--testimony and agreed statements; contamination; the officer in the case and evidence of the defendant's police interview.

Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for anyone interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. It's been described elsewhere as 'think of 24 Hours in Police Custody but in your ears'.

It is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

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.

As Rape on Trial continues its examination of the investigation and prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences in the UK criminal justice system, we are back in Crown Court for our fourth rape trial. Faruq, a taxi driver, is charged with raping Emily, a lone, intoxicated student he picked up in the street after she had been thrown out of a nightclub and separated from her friends: another rape prosecution the mainstream tells us is unlikely to succeed because of rape myths.

In this, the first of four episodes documenting real-life criminal proceedings in Faruq's trial, the prosecution case gets underway.

Topics and elements of the trial covered in this episode: prosecuting counsel's opening speech; special measures direction; the complainant's evidence in chief--her ABE video--and cross-examination; the rule in Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R. 67, H.L..

Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings.

It is a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

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.

Episode 7 sees us back in Crown Court for the conclusion of Dean’s trial. The kind of case the mainstream says shouldn’t succeed: an intimate partner relationship rape; one person’s word against another’s; no corroborating evidence; no forensic evidence; no witnesses; and the toughest cross-examination of a rape complainant we have seen so far with Anya painted as the angry and vengeful ex-partner and accused of making false allegations both now and in the past. In short, according to the mainstream, this is the wrong kind of case and the wrong kind of victim.

The conclusion of Dean's case marks a turning point in the season, raising questions about what the rape trials we have seen so far might reveal about rape myths, evidence and proof, courtroom advocacy, and attrition in the criminal justice process more broadly.

Key topics and issues covered in this episode: bad character and need for fairness; defence submission of no case to answer (the Galbraith test) and judge directed acquittals; closing speeches and judge's directions; the verdict and post-verdict reflections.

A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

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.

Episode 6 of Rape on Trial sees us back in Court 2 as Dean's rape trial continues. Dean stands accused of rape and sexual assault against Anya, his girlfriend/partner at the material time.

We pick up where we left off in episode 5, with Anya about to undergo cross-examination. In contrast to the cross-examination of rape complainants in Tariq and Jerome's trials, Anya's experience in the witness box aligns more closely with what we might expect to see, given mainstream accounts of rape trials and the conduct of defence counsel.

Topics and elements of the trial covered in this episode: cross-examination of the complainant; the evidence of the arresting officer; recalling the complainant; judge's interventions; dealing new lines of inquiry in the course of the trial; agreed statements; the testimony of the officer in the case (evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; discussion of the prosecution's bad character application and a pending defence submission.

A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

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.

As Rape on Trial continues, we're back in the public gallery of the Crown Court for Dean’s trial. He is charged with numerous counts of violence against the person offences relating to two previous partners, Erica and Anya. He also stands accused of a single charge of rape and one of sexual assault perpetrated against Anya, his partner at the time.

As in previous episodes, Dean’s trial involves another rape case the mainstream narrative tells us shouldn’t succeed: an allegation of intimate partner relationship rape with no forensic evidence, no CCTV, and no eyewitnesses.

Topics and key elements covered in this episode: pre-trial change of plea; judge's opening directions; prosecuting counsel's opening speech; application to adduce evidence of the defendant's bad character under s101 Criminal Justice Act 2003; the use of special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses; rape complainant's evidence-in-chief (ABE video); IT difficulties, belligerent defendants, and the implications for witnesses.

A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

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.

Episode 4 of Rape on Trial sees us back in court for the conclusion of Jerome’s trial for the robbery of five sex workers and rape of one; another case involving what the conventional wisdom tells us is the wrong kind of rape and the wrong kind of victim and shouldn't result in convictions.

As in Tariq's case, this trial, and the jury’s verdict, raise difficult questions for mainstream accounts of rape in the criminal process, the impact of rape myths and gender stereotypes on victim credibility, courtroom advocacy and the conduct of cross-examination, and how the criminal justice system actually works in these cases.

Topics and key elements covered in this episode: the remainder of the prosecution case; hearsay evidence; agreed statements; agreed evidence; evidence of first complaint; evidence of the defendant's bad character; the defence case; defendant's evidence-in-chief; cross-examination of the defendant charged with rape; adding charges to the indictment mid-trial; judge's directions; closing speeches; final directions; jury questions; verdict and thoughts on whether it reflects rape myths and stereotypes or evidence and proof.

A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

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 repeatedly told that juries only convict in “real rape” cases with “ideal victims.” Episode 3 of Rape on Trial continues to challenges those assumptions.

We're back in Crown Court for the trial of Jerome who stands accused of robbing five women and raping one. The complainants are all sex workers, and the conduct of the trial—and its outcome—raise important questions about the prominence and impact of rape myths and gender stereotypes in rape trials, and about how counsel and trial judges' courtroom practice and jury decision-making are portrayed in the mainstream and very public discourse about rape in the criminal process.

Topics and key elements covered in this episode: the prosecution's opening speech; eyewitness identification evidence and the Turnbull direction; changes to the defence case; complainants' evidence-in-chief; special measures--complainant ABE video and use of screens; cross-examination of rape complainant (verbatim); cross-examination of robbery complainants; evidence of recent complaint.

A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

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.

Want to know how the criminal justice system really works in cases of rape and serious sexual offences?

Rape on Trial continues with the second of our two-part season opening.

We're back in the public gallery of Crown Court for the final days of Tariq's trial for rape and false imprisonment in a case the conventional wisdom tells us shouldn't result in conviction: one person's word against another's; no forensic evidence; delayed report; young, black complainant; a defendant claiming consent; and an allegation the defence say is motivated by shame and regret.

Will the jury's deliberations and assessment of the evidence be biased by rape myths and gender stereotypes? Or will the evidence satisfy the jury of Tariq's guilt?

Topics covered in this episode: defendant's evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; judge's directions in a rape trial; closing speeches; the verdict; the reported impact of rape myths and stereotypes in jury deliberations.

Rape on Trial is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.

As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.

Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

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.