Category: Vulnerable defendants and witnesses
Get the latest news and insight about cases involving vulnerable defendants and witnesses, including those with autism and mental health issues.
Fact find hearings shouldn’t be under-estimated
Lloyd Jenkins reports on a recent ‘Trial of the Facts’ or a ‘Fact Find’ hearing as they are more commonly known.
Your client, intermediaries and ‘invisible’ Autism
Here’s a question that we regularly deal with as solicitors or advocates: is it possible my client needs an intermediary?
How to: the cross examination of vulnerable witnesses (part 2)
This article is the second in a series which aims to explore some common themes in the cross examination of vulnerable witnesses by providing tips and illustrative examples.
How to: the cross examination of vulnerable witnesses (part 1)
This article is the first in a series which aims to explore some common themes in the cross examination of vulnerable witnesses by providing tips and illustrative examples.
Video hearings and disabled defendants – a review of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s interim report
A review of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s interim report.
Autism and vulnerable client specialist advocacy
The PDS has advocates who specialise in supporting clients with Autism. Find out how we can help.
What is neurodiversity
People who are neurodivergent may have a condition to which s4 Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 and the Pritchard criteria apply. Neurodivergence may also be relevant to full and partial defences such as insanity, diminished responsibility or duress and to the mens rea of certain offences.
Public Defender Service – vulnerable witness training
Recent years have seen a shift in the Courts’ approach to the cross examination of vulnerable witnesses, moving away from adversarial questioning to a more evidence-based approach.