Tag: 2014

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R -v- Shamsul Islam

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Terrorism and bomb hoax which closed Knaresborough |

A hoax caller closed off the town and invited the wrongful arrest of a number of innocent men.  We were instructed to compare the voice of the hoax caller with a number of suspects.  The evidence assisted in the case against Mr Islam and was able to distinguish his voice from the other suspects including his brother’s.  Shamsul Islam was convicted

Article containing case information 

November 2014, North Yorkshire, UK
Instructed by the Crown; submitted reports and gave evidence at York Crown Court

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R -v- Uter, Abouakkour, Roberts, Wood and Williams

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Birmingham gang tried for kidnapping, torture and subsequent witness intimidation |

Provided a key witness for the prosecution case in the trial of multiple defendants.  The recordings comprised numerous telephone calls which we were instructed to compare with suspect interview recordings.  The examinations also involved transcription/analysis of disputed sections from some of these recordings.  The defendants were convicted and sentenced to a collective 66 years.

Article containing information about the case

November 2014, Birmingham, UK
Instructed by the Crown, produced reports and gave evidence in the witness box.

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R -v- Christopher Sawyers and Kirsty Edmonson

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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- Paul Hamilton, Noel Hamilton and Thomas Hamilton

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Trial for murder and violent disorder at the Old Bailey |

We were instructed by the Crown to transcribe a recording of a fight between a group of men and women where Liam Hamilton was fatally stabbed.  As well as discerning the content, we were asked to give a judgement on whether certain utterances were spoken/shouted by men or women.  Prof French was also asked to consider further questions from the defence at trial. Paul Hamilton was convicted of murder and received a life sentence.

BBC article on case

January – February 2014; Central Criminal Court – Old Bailey, UK
Instructed by the prosecution, provided reports and transcripts and gave evidence in the witness box

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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- David Sindall

Speaker comparison and transcripts in South Yorkshire murder trial |

We acted for the defence in this case and produced a transcript and a report on forensic speaker comparison.  As part of the work we were asked to comment on a prosecution expert’s transcript, and attribution within that transcript, and produce our own version.

BBC article on the case

February 2014; Sheffield Crown Court before Mr Justice Staples, UK
Instructed by the defence, provided reports and transcripts and gave evidence in the witness box