Category: Enhancement

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R -v- Christopher Sawyers and Kirsty Edmonson

Digital tape recorder image

Trial for murder and subsequent fraud and theft |

Kenneth Chapman was murdered and his corpse left in a house where a series of recordings were made.  We were instructed by the police to enhance and transcribe sections of the recordings and to establish the date and time on which the recordings were made.  Christopher Sawyers was found guilty of the murder and Edmonson was found guilty of related fraud offences.

Guardian article on the case [23rd June 2014]

June 2014; Greater Manchester, UK
Instructed by the prosecution, provided report and transcript and worked with GMP officers to  identify and enhance key sections of the recordings

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R -v- Aitken, Aitken & Doherty

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Enhancement and transcription in a murder case |

In this trial for murder, we were asked to enhance sections of audio from a mobile phone video which had been taken while the suspects were burning articles of clothing worn during the murder of Barry Smith.  The enhancement and transcription provided key evidence of the suspects’ involvement in the incident. Vincent Aitken will serve a minimum of 22 years while Nathan Doherty was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years. Emma Aitken will serve a minimum of 12 years.

The original video (left), the enhanced video (right, enhanced by Key Forensic) can be viewed below along with the enhanced audio track produced at J P French Associates.

May 2014; Leicester Crown Court, UK
Instructed by the prosecution, provided report and transcript, enhanced audio and video with enhanced audio track and subtitles from transcript

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R -v- Robert Cerqua

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Man who murdered his twin brother |

We enhanced and transcribed key sections of the 999 call recording in this case (article containing call) where the mother of the victim rang the police after he had been stabbed.  The evidence provided the police with a more accurate account of the event and details of who was involved in the offence.  The case and sentencing is summarised in a Guardian article:

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/oct/21/man-stabbed-twin-brother-death-13-years-prison

February 2014, Hampshire, UK
Instructed by the prosecution, provided reports and transcripts.

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R -v- Ahmed & Ahmed

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Trials for Directing and Membership of Al Qaeda |

J P French Associates were commended by the Greater Manchester Police for our “outstanding assistance … in connection with the prosecution of Rangzieb Ahmed and Habib Ahmed” for a number of terrorist offences.  Various members of the firm carried out a range of forensic work including enhancement of recordings and transcription and speaker comparison in English, Urdu and Panjabi languages.  The convictions in relation to Al Qaeda were the first of their kind in the UK.

Certificate of appreciation – GMP CTU

Manchester Crown Court, December 2008.

Instructed by the Crown.  Produced reports, transcripts and gave evidence in court.

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R -v- Ian Huntley & Maxine Carr

image of telephone handset

The ‘Soham Twins murders’ |

We were instructed in this case to analyse telephone calls between the defendant Maxine Carr and family members made while she was in prison.  We were first engaged to enhance the evidential recordings and also to transcribe the speech.

Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London.  November & December, 2003.
Instructed by the Defence for Ms Carr.  R

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R -v- Woodgate, Bowyer, Clifford, Duberry & Others

Leeds United footballers’ trial for racial assault |

J P French Associates produced an enhanced version of recordings from prison cells between some of the (former) Leeds United footballers following an alleged racial assault in Leeds.  Further to this, we also transcribed the evidential materials for the courts.

Hull Crown Court, 2000.
Instructed by the Crown.  Produced report and transcript.