News

The case of Valdo Calocane, convicted of diminished responsibility manslaughter, has brought to the public’s attention the role of expert psychiatric witnesses in cases of alleged murder. The case raises a number of issues about the role of expert witnesses in criminal proceedings, mental condition defences and the meaning of public interest.

An expert who does not understand their duty to be independent, and oversteps their role, risks the court either refusing to admit their evidence or placing less weight upon it. 

Ryan Castellucci, R (on the application of) v Gender Recognition Panel [2024] EWHC 54 (Admin)

A medical expert witness was not helping the Court by trying to make the evidence about a child's injuries fit their own conclusions. 

LCC v V & B [2023] EWFC 268 (18 August 2023)

We take a look at how the distinction between being an independent Expert Witness is crucial in a court case.

In an exceptional case, as here, where the expert singularly and spectacularly fails in their duties to the court, expert evidence may be deemed inadmissible and never get to the stage of being tested for weight.

The case: An application brought under the Insolvency Act 1986.