Featured Articles – Expert Witness Features – page 19

DNA difficulties

DNA RESULTS are not always of a quality to enable a straightforward match comparison to be made.

Bericon has recently had considerable success in getting DNA evidence – where it is low-level or where mixtures and a statistical interpretation cannot be given – ruled inadmissible: R v Martin Clark and R v Raymond Severn at Luton Crown Court. In this case, after a voir dire, Judge Foster decided to exclude the DNA evidence as it was not possible to give any indication of its strength and he would not know how to sum up the evidence for the jury.

UK’s biggest provider of DNA profiling

THE FORENSIC Science Service’s DNA specialists offer a range of case assessment and reevaluation services.

They range from simple re-analysis of a sample to confirm the original result, through assessment of the exhibit and sample recovery process, to thorough re-evaluation of the results obtained, their interpretation and conclusions drawn.

The FSS is the largest provider of forensic services in the UK and has been delivering evidence for the courts for over 70 years.

Unenviable, thankless – but reliable

THE RELIABLE assessment of contaminated land in the UK can be an unenviable, thankless task.

Rather than a straightforward scientific decision, the determination of contaminated land within the context of UK legislation is often a grey and fuzzy process. As a result, today’s contaminated-land expert must possess not only an array of scientific skills but also considerable interpretative smarts to comprehend the reams of relevant guidance and legislation.

Essentially, it is about the difficulty in determining what actually constitutes ‘contaminated land’.

A matter of mediation

THE PROCESS of mediation runs parallel with conventional legal process. Parties and/or their professional advisers can, on case and at any time, elect to engage in the process of mediation, with such involvement typically falling outside conventional legal process. Mediation is a voluntary process that involves the appointment of a third-party neutral who, on behalf of the parties, assists the negotiation process with a view to helping the parties reach suitable terms of settlement.

Importantly, as the process is ‘interests based’ and not ‘rights based’, it enables parties to look for an outcome that may meet a variety of needs beyond just what they are entitled to under the law.

Knowing where to draw the line: you need more than a few old maps

ACCURATELY identifying the boundary between two properties often requires specialist knowledge.

The red line drawn around a property on the Land Registry plan shows only the general boundary.

It does not identify whether the boundary runs along the centre of a hedge or along one side of it.