The Use of Psychiatric Evidence in Sexual Offence Trials

Introduction

The reliability and credibility of a complainant witness in a trial involving allegations of sexual offences, be they recent or non-recent, is fundamental.

There is a slowly increasing tendency of using expert psychiatric evidence to address such issues as early childhood memory, external influences on memory, recovered memory and false memory syndrome.

This webinar will explore the extent to which such evidence can be used at trial and crucially, if the giving of the evidence is permitted, whether such evidence distracts the jury from their role in deciding guilt or innocence.

In short, we will examine the extent to which the evidence of such an expert witness will determine a verdict.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• The circumstances in which expert psychiatric/psychologist evidence will be deemed admissible
• The extent to which such an expert can comment upon reliability and credibility of a witness
• Whether such an approach is usurping the role of a jury
• Necessity for prosecution to consider disclosure
• Case law

This webinar was recorded on 8th June 2022