News

Gareth Jenkins gave evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry from 25 to 28 June on the expert evidence he provided on the Horizon IT system. Mr Jenkins told the Inquiry that he had been unaware of his duties as an Expert Witness and had not been offered any training to support his role. The EWI offers comprehensive training on the core competencies of an Expert Witness. We urge policy and rule makers, and the judiciary, to consider how to ensure that Expert Witnesses fully understand their duties and know how to apply them.  

The pilot project seeks to use a range of highly expert consultants from a range of specialties undertake assessments of children, discuss findings with one another, and write a formal report for the Family Court.

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is currently holding the public hearings for its phases 5 and 6, which will include scrutiny of the expert evidence relied on by the Post Office. We are proud that two members of EWI provided excellent, independent expert evidence or expert advice on the Horizon case. Their roles in the case demonstrate how important it is for Expert Witnesses to understand and apply the core competencies of the profession. 

Welcome to Expert Matters, the official podcast of the Expert Witness Institute. Each month, we'll be taking an informed look at the key developments in the world of expert witnesses and expert evidence.

The meeting was held via Zoom on the 12th June.

During this year’s EWI Conference on 17 May, Beth Rigby presented a session on the Expert Witness: In Practice. The session featured practical examples of an Expert under cross-examination to illustrate the pitfalls of oral evidence and how to avoid them, before concluding with breakout groups to discuss concerns with, and tips for, cross-examination. We've collated the insigfhtful feedback from these discussions. 

The Hon. Mrs. Justice Bacon delivered her closing address on how the role of the Expert Witness has evolved in modern litigation and the challenges this presents for experts, those instructing them, and judges alike.

Our annual conference is always a highlight in the Expert Witness Institute calendar. This year’s event, which took place on 17^th May, saw The Rt. Hon. Sir Keith Lindblom deliver a captivating opening keynote.

In this update on the 20-page limit for expert reports for cases on the Intermediate Track, we set out the position of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee on our concerns following further discussions, the Committee's intention to review the reforms after 12 months, and the EWI's advice to members. 

We’re starting a new EWI series with A spotlight on… the Post Office Horizon Scandal which looks at how the Post Office failed to listen to, and act on, expert advice. EWI member and IT and digital forensics expert, Jason Coyne, first spotted errors in the Horizon system in 2003 while working as a Single Joint Expert, only to have his findings dismissed by the Post Office. Jason tells us more about his involvement in the case, including how he later acted as an Expert Witness in the sub-postmasters’ case against the Post Office.