60 acast.com Rape on Trial https://www.criminaljusticeinaction.com/ en Dr Candida Saunders, 2025-2026 Dr Candida Saunders What actually happens to rape cases in the criminal justice system in England & Wales?


Presented by Dr Candida Saunders, a legal scholar specialising in criminal law, evidence, and procedure, Rape on Trial is a legally informed, criminal justice documentary podcast examining the investigation and prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences. Through a series of individual case studies drawing on real-life police and prosecution case-files and Crown Court trial observations, we see how criminal justice actually works in an adversarial legal system, and how it doesn't.


By looking closely at each stage of the criminal process, at cases that both do and don’t result in prosecution and conviction, we see discretionary pre-trial decision-making in action--how evidence is weighed and assessed, evidential thresholds applied, how courtroom advocates marshal evidence and present their case, how trial judges manage cases and direct juries.


What we see challenges us to reconsider everything we 'know' about rape myths, rape culture, and the criminal process.


Advisory note: Episodes may include detailed accounts of sexual and physical violence drawn directly from witness testimony, police statements, and case files. Listener discretion is advised.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> What actually happens to rape cases in the criminal justice system in England & Wales?


Presented by Dr Candida Saunders, a legal scholar specialising in criminal law, evidence, and procedure, Rape on Trial is a legally informed, criminal justice documentary podcast examining the investigation and prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences. Through a series of individual case studies drawing on real-life police and prosecution case-files and Crown Court trial observations, we see how criminal justice actually works in an adversarial legal system, and how it doesn't.


By looking closely at each stage of the criminal process, at cases that both do and don’t result in prosecution and conviction, we see discretionary pre-trial decision-making in action--how evidence is weighed and assessed, evidential thresholds applied, how courtroom advocates marshal evidence and present their case, how trial judges manage cases and direct juries.


What we see challenges us to reconsider everything we 'know' about rape myths, rape culture, and the criminal process.


Advisory note: Episodes may include detailed accounts of sexual and physical violence drawn directly from witness testimony, police statements, and case files. Listener discretion is advised.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> true Dr Candida Saunders info+68a9bc65352b565deb015a62@mg-eu.acast.com 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 criminal-justice-in-action serial https://assets.pippa.io/shows/68a9bc65352b565deb015a62/1770029349844-61c70c71-3864-46d5-a948-3d557a81839c.jpeg https://www.criminaljusticeinaction.com/ Rape on Trial <![CDATA[19. Kevin's Trial part 3]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 22:09:11 GMT 1:36:18 6a0e2e5e3bbd73b46e0f8c65 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/19-kevins-trial-part-3 6a0e2e5e3bbd73b46e0f8c65 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 19-kevins-trial-part-3 A historic allegation of child sexual abuse: indecent assault on a male under 14 full 1 19 Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.


In this episode, we watch the final stages of Kevin's 'not a rape' rape trial.


Key topics and procedural elements covered: the defendant's evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; judge's directions; closing speeches from the prosecution and defence; addressing a client's previous convictions in closing; summary of the evidence and final directions; jury question; verdict; detailed discussion of what constitutes a verdict, how many jurors must agree to return a verdict, what 'guilty' and 'not guilty' mean, and how judge's deal with juries seeking clarification on the meaning of 'sure' or 'beyond reasonable doubt'.


Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom


The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.


In this episode, we watch the final stages of Kevin's 'not a rape' rape trial.


Key topics and procedural elements covered: the defendant's evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; judge's directions; closing speeches from the prosecution and defence; addressing a client's previous convictions in closing; summary of the evidence and final directions; jury question; verdict; detailed discussion of what constitutes a verdict, how many jurors must agree to return a verdict, what 'guilty' and 'not guilty' mean, and how judge's deal with juries seeking clarification on the meaning of 'sure' or 'beyond reasonable doubt'.


Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom


The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[18. Kevin's Trial part 2]]> Tue, 05 May 2026 16:43:31 GMT 1:03:24 69fa1e33a6ade2559208bb00 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/kevins-trial-part-2 69fa1e33a6ade2559208bb00 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 kevins-trial-part-2 full 1 18 Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.


This episode sees us back in court for the second part of Kevin's trial. Kevin stands accused of indecent assault on a male, Paul, who was a child at the material time. We're here not only to watch proceedings but to ask whether cases involving male complainants and/or child complainants are 'different', like the mainstream rape research and commentary tells us they are. And, if they are, whether they nevertheless shed valuable light on criminal proceedings in rape and serious sex offences.


Key topics and procedural elements covered in this episode: cross-examination of the complainant; adducing (agreed) evidence of previous consistent statements and first/recent complaint under s120 Criminal Justice Act 2003; inconsistencies in the complainant's evidence arising from same.


Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom


The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.


This episode sees us back in court for the second part of Kevin's trial. Kevin stands accused of indecent assault on a male, Paul, who was a child at the material time. We're here not only to watch proceedings but to ask whether cases involving male complainants and/or child complainants are 'different', like the mainstream rape research and commentary tells us they are. And, if they are, whether they nevertheless shed valuable light on criminal proceedings in rape and serious sex offences.


Key topics and procedural elements covered in this episode: cross-examination of the complainant; adducing (agreed) evidence of previous consistent statements and first/recent complaint under s120 Criminal Justice Act 2003; inconsistencies in the complainant's evidence arising from same.


Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom


The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[17. Kevin's Trial part 1]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:19:50 GMT 1:11:03 69efd2f642ac2dba68345bf2 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/kevins-trial-part-1 69efd2f642ac2dba68345bf2 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 kevins-trial-part-1 A male rape trial: Indecent assault on a male under 14 years of age full 1 17 Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.


Another Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales. Another rape trial. But one that isn't, technically, a rape trial. And one that the mainstream research tends to avoid on the basis that cases like this are "different".


Why? Because this is a male rape case: male defendant; male complainant, and, moreover, a male complainant who, while an adult when the case is reported, investigated, and tried, was a child at the material time. A case of one person's word against another's then, but one of 'he said, he said' rather than 'he said, she said'. And a case where consent and gendered rape myths and stereotypes won't/can't muddy the waters for the jury.


All the more reason to watch, then, surely?


Key topics and procedural elements covered: agreed admission of evidence of defendant's bad character; opening directions; the prosecution opening speech; historic offences and charging under the law in force at the time (no retrospective law); constraints on the decision to prosecute (the two-stage Full Code Test for Prosecution in the Code for Crown Prosecutors); special measures; complainant's ABE video as evidence-in-chief; a bad character application (that's really a sexual behaviour evidence application) abandoned by the defence.


Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom



The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.


Another Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales. Another rape trial. But one that isn't, technically, a rape trial. And one that the mainstream research tends to avoid on the basis that cases like this are "different".


Why? Because this is a male rape case: male defendant; male complainant, and, moreover, a male complainant who, while an adult when the case is reported, investigated, and tried, was a child at the material time. A case of one person's word against another's then, but one of 'he said, he said' rather than 'he said, she said'. And a case where consent and gendered rape myths and stereotypes won't/can't muddy the waters for the jury.


All the more reason to watch, then, surely?


Key topics and procedural elements covered: agreed admission of evidence of defendant's bad character; opening directions; the prosecution opening speech; historic offences and charging under the law in force at the time (no retrospective law); constraints on the decision to prosecute (the two-stage Full Code Test for Prosecution in the Code for Crown Prosecutors); special measures; complainant's ABE video as evidence-in-chief; a bad character application (that's really a sexual behaviour evidence application) abandoned by the defence.


Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom



The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[15. Omar's Trial]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:48:11 GMT 44:33 698a0fca68c8ed48f048c19b true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/15-omars-trial 698a0fca68c8ed48f048c19b 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 15-omars-trial full 1 15 Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for those interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.


Back from our trip to Northern Ireland, we're back in a Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales for the trial of Omar who is charged with a single count of rape.


This is a stranger rape case, or, according to the mainstream discourse, a 'real rape' case.


Key topics and procedural elements covered: the prosecution opening speech; change of plea.


Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for those interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.


Back from our trip to Northern Ireland, we're back in a Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales for the trial of Omar who is charged with a single count of rape.


This is a stranger rape case, or, according to the mainstream discourse, a 'real rape' case.


Key topics and procedural elements covered: the prosecution opening speech; change of plea.


Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[14. Patrick's Trial part 3]]> Sat, 24 Jan 2026 20:02:34 GMT 1:28:24 6975255a6c5100c2bb237b52 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/14-patricks-trial-part-3 6975255a6c5100c2bb237b52 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 14-patricks-trial-part-3 full 1 14 Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.


This episode sees us back in a Crown Court somewhere in NI for the dramatic conclusion of Patrick's rape trial. Patrick stands accused on a single count of rape which he denies on the basis that Caitlin, who was intoxicated at the material time, not only consented to but initiated sex.


Key topics and procedural elements covered: previous consistent statements under s120 Criminal Justice Act 2003; agreed evidence; police evidence--the testimony of the officer in the case; non-witnesses; the suspect interview; the defence case; the defendant's evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; an eye-brow raising defence witness; closing speeches and a master-class, perhaps, on how not to give a defence closing; the jury's quick and unanimous verdict.


Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom


The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.


This episode sees us back in a Crown Court somewhere in NI for the dramatic conclusion of Patrick's rape trial. Patrick stands accused on a single count of rape which he denies on the basis that Caitlin, who was intoxicated at the material time, not only consented to but initiated sex.


Key topics and procedural elements covered: previous consistent statements under s120 Criminal Justice Act 2003; agreed evidence; police evidence--the testimony of the officer in the case; non-witnesses; the suspect interview; the defence case; the defendant's evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; an eye-brow raising defence witness; closing speeches and a master-class, perhaps, on how not to give a defence closing; the jury's quick and unanimous verdict.


Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom


The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[13. Patrick's Trial part 2]]> Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:45:23 GMT 1:12:41 695963c3c4b2cc952c11fc65 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/13-patricks-trial-part 695963c3c4b2cc952c11fc65 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 13-patricks-trial-part full 1 13 Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of case-studies drawing on (anonymised) real-life cases and trial proceedings, we see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offences, and how it doesn't.


In this episode, we're back in a Crown Court somewhere in Northern Ireland for the second part of Patrick's jury trial. Patrick stands accused of a single count of rape.


Key topics and procedural issues covered: supplementary evidence-in-chief and the introduction of CCTV evidence; cross-examination of the complainant; consent; intoxication; judicial and prosecutor's interventions; putting the defence case to the witness; agreed evidence.


Rape on Trial is a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of case-studies drawing on (anonymised) real-life cases and trial proceedings, we see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offences, and how it doesn't.


In this episode, we're back in a Crown Court somewhere in Northern Ireland for the second part of Patrick's jury trial. Patrick stands accused of a single count of rape.


Key topics and procedural issues covered: supplementary evidence-in-chief and the introduction of CCTV evidence; cross-examination of the complainant; consent; intoxication; judicial and prosecutor's interventions; putting the defence case to the witness; agreed evidence.


Rape on Trial is a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[12. Patrick's Trial part 1]]> Sat, 20 Dec 2025 17:02:26 GMT 54:17 6946d6a3184761c0213224a2 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/12-patricks-trial-part-1 6946d6a3184761c0213224a2 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 12-patricks-trial-part-1 full 1 12 Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings.


This episode sees us back in the public gallery for another rape trial involving an intoxicated complainant. Instead of being in 'a Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales', however, this trial finds us in Northern Ireland. We're watching proceedings in a different legal jurisdiction, then, but we're looking at the same issues and asking the same question: Are outcomes in rape trials better explained by 'rape myths' or evidence and proof?


Key topics and procedural elements covered in this episode: prosecuting counsel's opening speech; consent; intoxication; special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses and the complainant's evidence-in-chief; delays at court and keeping complainants/witnesses waiting.


A must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, Rape on Trial is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law and procedure.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom


The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings.


This episode sees us back in the public gallery for another rape trial involving an intoxicated complainant. Instead of being in 'a Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales', however, this trial finds us in Northern Ireland. We're watching proceedings in a different legal jurisdiction, then, but we're looking at the same issues and asking the same question: Are outcomes in rape trials better explained by 'rape myths' or evidence and proof?


Key topics and procedural elements covered in this episode: prosecuting counsel's opening speech; consent; intoxication; special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses and the complainant's evidence-in-chief; delays at court and keeping complainants/witnesses waiting.


A must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, Rape on Trial is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law and procedure.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom


The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[11. Faruq's Trial part 4]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:36:05 GMT 1:06:42 6937074afe31b2ca09d52eeb true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/11-faruqs-trial-part-4 6937074afe31b2ca09d52eeb 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 11-faruqs-trial-part-4 A taxi-driver, a lone intoxicated female student, and an allegation of rape full 1 11 Want to see for yourself how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offences?


This episode sees us back in the public gallery of a Crown Court somewhere in England and Wales for the the final couple of days of Faruq's rape trial.


Key topics and elements covered: prosecuting and defence counsel's closing speeches; judge's directions including that 'good character' direction, and a s34 'failure to mention' direction and summary of the evidence; the jury verdict; and reflections as an observer.


Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for anyone interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. It's been described elsewhere as 'think of 24 Hours in Police Custody but in your ears'.


It is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom



The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Want to see for yourself how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offences?


This episode sees us back in the public gallery of a Crown Court somewhere in England and Wales for the the final couple of days of Faruq's rape trial.


Key topics and elements covered: prosecuting and defence counsel's closing speeches; judge's directions including that 'good character' direction, and a s34 'failure to mention' direction and summary of the evidence; the jury verdict; and reflections as an observer.


Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for anyone interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. It's been described elsewhere as 'think of 24 Hours in Police Custody but in your ears'.


It is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom



The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[10. Faruq's Trial part 3]]> Sun, 07 Dec 2025 21:41:57 GMT 1:03:37 6935f4a576f89ba373c5dc9f true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/10-faruqs-trial-part-3 6935f4a576f89ba373c5dc9f 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 10-faruqs-trial-part-3 A taxi-driver, a lone intoxicated student, and an allegation of rape. full 1 10 Want to see for yourself how the criminal process really works in cases of rape and serious sexual offences?


This episode of Rape on Trial sees us back in the public gallery of Crown Court for the third but not, it turns out, final instalment of Faruq’s rape trial.


The prosecution concludes its case then it’s time for the jury to hear directly from the defendant himself: his account of that night, his shifting explanations, and the cracks that open up in prosecuting counsel’s cross-examination.


Key topics and issues raised in this episode: the evidence of the investigating officer--evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; more maps; prosecuting counsels' bad character application under s101 Criminal Justice Act 2003; agreed facts including key findings in the report from the forensic medical examination and toxicology; defence request for a good character direction; the defendant's evidence-in-chief; dealing with the defendant's lies at the police station; cross-examination of the accused; the close of the defence case; and discussion of judge's directions including s75 Sexual Offences Act 2003.


Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for anyone interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. It's been described elsewhere as 'think of 24 Hours in Police Custody but in your ears'.


It is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Want to see for yourself how the criminal process really works in cases of rape and serious sexual offences?


This episode of Rape on Trial sees us back in the public gallery of Crown Court for the third but not, it turns out, final instalment of Faruq’s rape trial.


The prosecution concludes its case then it’s time for the jury to hear directly from the defendant himself: his account of that night, his shifting explanations, and the cracks that open up in prosecuting counsel’s cross-examination.


Key topics and issues raised in this episode: the evidence of the investigating officer--evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; more maps; prosecuting counsels' bad character application under s101 Criminal Justice Act 2003; agreed facts including key findings in the report from the forensic medical examination and toxicology; defence request for a good character direction; the defendant's evidence-in-chief; dealing with the defendant's lies at the police station; cross-examination of the accused; the close of the defence case; and discussion of judge's directions including s75 Sexual Offences Act 2003.


Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for anyone interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. It's been described elsewhere as 'think of 24 Hours in Police Custody but in your ears'.


It is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[9. Faruq's Trial part 2]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:04:14 GMT 1:08:01 69249e1dbe0b912f5024bf92 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/9-faruqs-trial-part-2 69249e1dbe0b912f5024bf92 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 9-faruqs-trial-part-2 full 1 9 Episode 9 of Rape on Trial sees us back in Crown Court for the second day of Faruq's rape trial.


Plunging straight back into cross-examination, the defence sets out to problematise, not the complainant’s credibility, but her reliability—dealing with the evidential difficulties posed by her level of intoxication and its implications re memory fragmentation, confabulation and contamination.


We see how defence advocacy works in practice: how these issues are probed, how ‘false memories’ are argued, how evidence like CCTV footage and cell-site data does not speak for itself, and the inferences juries may be asked to draw in cases where a complainant can’t remember.


This episode examines the messy and emotive reality of rape trials and the sometimes uncomfortable tension between fairness to the accused and compassion for the complainant.


Key topics and elements raised in this episode: cross-examination of the complainant; putting the defence case and the rule in Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R. 67, H.L.; evidence of other prosecution witnesses--testimony and agreed statements; contamination; the officer in the case and evidence of the defendant's police interview.


Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for anyone interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. It's been described elsewhere as 'think of 24 Hours in Police Custody but in your ears'.


It is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Episode 9 of Rape on Trial sees us back in Crown Court for the second day of Faruq's rape trial.


Plunging straight back into cross-examination, the defence sets out to problematise, not the complainant’s credibility, but her reliability—dealing with the evidential difficulties posed by her level of intoxication and its implications re memory fragmentation, confabulation and contamination.


We see how defence advocacy works in practice: how these issues are probed, how ‘false memories’ are argued, how evidence like CCTV footage and cell-site data does not speak for itself, and the inferences juries may be asked to draw in cases where a complainant can’t remember.


This episode examines the messy and emotive reality of rape trials and the sometimes uncomfortable tension between fairness to the accused and compassion for the complainant.


Key topics and elements raised in this episode: cross-examination of the complainant; putting the defence case and the rule in Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R. 67, H.L.; evidence of other prosecution witnesses--testimony and agreed statements; contamination; the officer in the case and evidence of the defendant's police interview.


Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for anyone interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. It's been described elsewhere as 'think of 24 Hours in Police Custody but in your ears'.


It is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[8. Faruq's Trial part 1]]> Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:32:21 GMT 1:28:26 690b35c668055f905c42aacd true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/faruqs-trial-part-1 690b35c668055f905c42aacd 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 faruqs-trial-part-1 A taxi-driver and an intoxicated complainant alleging rape full 1 8 As Rape on Trial continues its examination of the investigation and prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences in the UK criminal justice system, we are back in Crown Court for our fourth rape trial. Faruq, a taxi driver, is charged with raping Emily, a lone, intoxicated student he picked up in the street after she had been thrown out of a nightclub and separated from her friends: another rape prosecution the mainstream tells us is unlikely to succeed because of rape myths.


In this, the first of four episodes documenting real-life criminal proceedings in Faruq's trial, the prosecution case gets underway.


Topics and elements of the trial covered in this episode: prosecuting counsel's opening speech; special measures direction; the complainant's evidence in chief--her ABE video--and cross-examination; the rule in Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R. 67, H.L..


Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings.


It is a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> As Rape on Trial continues its examination of the investigation and prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences in the UK criminal justice system, we are back in Crown Court for our fourth rape trial. Faruq, a taxi driver, is charged with raping Emily, a lone, intoxicated student he picked up in the street after she had been thrown out of a nightclub and separated from her friends: another rape prosecution the mainstream tells us is unlikely to succeed because of rape myths.


In this, the first of four episodes documenting real-life criminal proceedings in Faruq's trial, the prosecution case gets underway.


Topics and elements of the trial covered in this episode: prosecuting counsel's opening speech; special measures direction; the complainant's evidence in chief--her ABE video--and cross-examination; the rule in Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R. 67, H.L..


Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings.


It is a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[7. Dean's Trial part 3]]> Mon, 13 Oct 2025 13:40:08 GMT 1:18:58 68ed0138d798804c9e76434a true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/deans-trial-part-3 68ed0138d798804c9e76434a 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 deans-trial-part-3 Rape and sexual assault trial involving IPV and history of DV full 1 7 Episode 7 sees us back in Crown Court for the conclusion of Dean’s trial. The kind of case the mainstream says shouldn’t succeed: an intimate partner relationship rape; one person’s word against another’s; no corroborating evidence; no forensic evidence; no witnesses; and the toughest cross-examination of a rape complainant we have seen so far with Anya painted as the angry and vengeful ex-partner and accused of making false allegations both now and in the past. In short, according to the mainstream, this is the wrong kind of case and the wrong kind of victim.


The conclusion of Dean's case marks a turning point in the season, raising questions about what the rape trials we have seen so far might reveal about rape myths, evidence and proof, courtroom advocacy, and attrition in the criminal justice process more broadly.


Key topics and issues covered in this episode: bad character and need for fairness; defence submission of no case to answer (the Galbraith test) and judge directed acquittals; closing speeches and judge's directions; the verdict and post-verdict reflections.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Episode 7 sees us back in Crown Court for the conclusion of Dean’s trial. The kind of case the mainstream says shouldn’t succeed: an intimate partner relationship rape; one person’s word against another’s; no corroborating evidence; no forensic evidence; no witnesses; and the toughest cross-examination of a rape complainant we have seen so far with Anya painted as the angry and vengeful ex-partner and accused of making false allegations both now and in the past. In short, according to the mainstream, this is the wrong kind of case and the wrong kind of victim.


The conclusion of Dean's case marks a turning point in the season, raising questions about what the rape trials we have seen so far might reveal about rape myths, evidence and proof, courtroom advocacy, and attrition in the criminal justice process more broadly.


Key topics and issues covered in this episode: bad character and need for fairness; defence submission of no case to answer (the Galbraith test) and judge directed acquittals; closing speeches and judge's directions; the verdict and post-verdict reflections.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[6. Dean's Trial part 2]]> Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:57:51 GMT 1:23:35 68e00e9f035190b6f06bec57 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/6-deans-trial-part-2 68e00e9f035190b6f06bec57 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 6-deans-trial-part-2 Rape and sexual assault in an intimate relationship full 1 6 Episode 6 of Rape on Trial sees us back in Court 2 as Dean's rape trial continues. Dean stands accused of rape and sexual assault against Anya, his girlfriend/partner at the material time.


We pick up where we left off in episode 5, with Anya about to undergo cross-examination. In contrast to the cross-examination of rape complainants in Tariq and Jerome's trials, Anya's experience in the witness box aligns more closely with what we might expect to see, given mainstream accounts of rape trials and the conduct of defence counsel.


Topics and elements of the trial covered in this episode: cross-examination of the complainant; the evidence of the arresting officer; recalling the complainant; judge's interventions; dealing new lines of inquiry in the course of the trial; agreed statements; the testimony of the officer in the case (evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; discussion of the prosecution's bad character application and a pending defence submission.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Episode 6 of Rape on Trial sees us back in Court 2 as Dean's rape trial continues. Dean stands accused of rape and sexual assault against Anya, his girlfriend/partner at the material time.


We pick up where we left off in episode 5, with Anya about to undergo cross-examination. In contrast to the cross-examination of rape complainants in Tariq and Jerome's trials, Anya's experience in the witness box aligns more closely with what we might expect to see, given mainstream accounts of rape trials and the conduct of defence counsel.


Topics and elements of the trial covered in this episode: cross-examination of the complainant; the evidence of the arresting officer; recalling the complainant; judge's interventions; dealing new lines of inquiry in the course of the trial; agreed statements; the testimony of the officer in the case (evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; discussion of the prosecution's bad character application and a pending defence submission.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[5. Dean's Trial part 1]]> Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:25:02 GMT 54:45 68d6861facc34956e65ab94a true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/deans-trial-part-1 68d6861facc34956e65ab94a 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 deans-trial-part-1 An intimate partner rape in a domestic violence context full 1 5 As Rape on Trial continues, we're back in the public gallery of the Crown Court for Dean’s trial. He is charged with numerous counts of violence against the person offences relating to two previous partners, Erica and Anya. He also stands accused of a single charge of rape and one of sexual assault perpetrated against Anya, his partner at the time.


As in previous episodes, Dean’s trial involves another rape case the mainstream narrative tells us shouldn’t succeed: an allegation of intimate partner relationship rape with no forensic evidence, no CCTV, and no eyewitnesses.


Topics and key elements covered in this episode: pre-trial change of plea; judge's opening directions; prosecuting counsel's opening speech; application to adduce evidence of the defendant's bad character under s101 Criminal Justice Act 2003; the use of special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses; rape complainant's evidence-in-chief (ABE video); IT difficulties, belligerent defendants, and the implications for witnesses.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> As Rape on Trial continues, we're back in the public gallery of the Crown Court for Dean’s trial. He is charged with numerous counts of violence against the person offences relating to two previous partners, Erica and Anya. He also stands accused of a single charge of rape and one of sexual assault perpetrated against Anya, his partner at the time.


As in previous episodes, Dean’s trial involves another rape case the mainstream narrative tells us shouldn’t succeed: an allegation of intimate partner relationship rape with no forensic evidence, no CCTV, and no eyewitnesses.


Topics and key elements covered in this episode: pre-trial change of plea; judge's opening directions; prosecuting counsel's opening speech; application to adduce evidence of the defendant's bad character under s101 Criminal Justice Act 2003; the use of special measures for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses; rape complainant's evidence-in-chief (ABE video); IT difficulties, belligerent defendants, and the implications for witnesses.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[4. Jerome's Trial part 2]]> Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:03:58 GMT 1:16:57 68cd7eeef5e00f6ca4295904 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/4-jeromes-trial-part-2 68cd7eeef5e00f6ca4295904 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 4-jeromes-trial-part-2 Rape of a sex-worker full 1 4 Episode 4 of Rape on Trial sees us back in court for the conclusion of Jerome’s trial for the robbery of five sex workers and rape of one; another case involving what the conventional wisdom tells us is the wrong kind of rape and the wrong kind of victim and shouldn't result in convictions.


As in Tariq's case, this trial, and the jury’s verdict, raise difficult questions for mainstream accounts of rape in the criminal process, the impact of rape myths and gender stereotypes on victim credibility, courtroom advocacy and the conduct of cross-examination, and how the criminal justice system actually works in these cases.


Topics and key elements covered in this episode: the remainder of the prosecution case; hearsay evidence; agreed statements; agreed evidence; evidence of first complaint; evidence of the defendant's bad character; the defence case; defendant's evidence-in-chief; cross-examination of the defendant charged with rape; adding charges to the indictment mid-trial; judge's directions; closing speeches; final directions; jury questions; verdict and thoughts on whether it reflects rape myths and stereotypes or evidence and proof.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Episode 4 of Rape on Trial sees us back in court for the conclusion of Jerome’s trial for the robbery of five sex workers and rape of one; another case involving what the conventional wisdom tells us is the wrong kind of rape and the wrong kind of victim and shouldn't result in convictions.


As in Tariq's case, this trial, and the jury’s verdict, raise difficult questions for mainstream accounts of rape in the criminal process, the impact of rape myths and gender stereotypes on victim credibility, courtroom advocacy and the conduct of cross-examination, and how the criminal justice system actually works in these cases.


Topics and key elements covered in this episode: the remainder of the prosecution case; hearsay evidence; agreed statements; agreed evidence; evidence of first complaint; evidence of the defendant's bad character; the defence case; defendant's evidence-in-chief; cross-examination of the defendant charged with rape; adding charges to the indictment mid-trial; judge's directions; closing speeches; final directions; jury questions; verdict and thoughts on whether it reflects rape myths and stereotypes or evidence and proof.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[3. Jerome's Trial part 1]]> Fri, 05 Sep 2025 18:22:51 GMT 1:10:26 68bb2a7ba4a9a4d9459448ea true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/3-jeromes-trial-part-1 68bb2a7ba4a9a4d9459448ea 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 3-jeromes-trial-part-1 Rape on Trial full 1 3 We’re repeatedly told that juries only convict in “real rape” cases with “ideal victims.” Episode 3 of Rape on Trial continues to challenges those assumptions.


We're back in Crown Court for the trial of Jerome who stands accused of robbing five women and raping one. The complainants are all sex workers, and the conduct of the trial—and its outcome—raise important questions about the prominence and impact of rape myths and gender stereotypes in rape trials, and about how counsel and trial judges' courtroom practice and jury decision-making are portrayed in the mainstream and very public discourse about rape in the criminal process.


Topics and key elements covered in this episode: the prosecution's opening speech; eyewitness identification evidence and the Turnbull direction; changes to the defence case; complainants' evidence-in-chief; special measures--complainant ABE video and use of screens; cross-examination of rape complainant (verbatim); cross-examination of robbery complainants; evidence of recent complaint.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> We’re repeatedly told that juries only convict in “real rape” cases with “ideal victims.” Episode 3 of Rape on Trial continues to challenges those assumptions.


We're back in Crown Court for the trial of Jerome who stands accused of robbing five women and raping one. The complainants are all sex workers, and the conduct of the trial—and its outcome—raise important questions about the prominence and impact of rape myths and gender stereotypes in rape trials, and about how counsel and trial judges' courtroom practice and jury decision-making are portrayed in the mainstream and very public discourse about rape in the criminal process.


Topics and key elements covered in this episode: the prosecution's opening speech; eyewitness identification evidence and the Turnbull direction; changes to the defence case; complainants' evidence-in-chief; special measures--complainant ABE video and use of screens; cross-examination of rape complainant (verbatim); cross-examination of robbery complainants; evidence of recent complaint.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[2. Tariq's Trial part 2]]> Sun, 24 Aug 2025 11:42:54 GMT 1:22:38 68aafabc352b565deb52aaa4 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/2-tariqs-trial-part-2 68aafabc352b565deb52aaa4 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 2-tariqs-trial-part-2 Rape on Trial full 1 2 Want to know how the criminal justice system really works in cases of rape and serious sexual offences?


Rape on Trial continues with the second of our two-part season opening.


We're back in the public gallery of Crown Court for the final days of Tariq's trial for rape and false imprisonment in a case the conventional wisdom tells us shouldn't result in conviction: one person's word against another's; no forensic evidence; delayed report; young, black complainant; a defendant claiming consent; and an allegation the defence say is motivated by shame and regret.


Will the jury's deliberations and assessment of the evidence be biased by rape myths and gender stereotypes? Or will the evidence satisfy the jury of Tariq's guilt?


Topics covered in this episode: defendant's evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; judge's directions in a rape trial; closing speeches; the verdict; the reported impact of rape myths and stereotypes in jury deliberations.


Rape on Trial is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Want to know how the criminal justice system really works in cases of rape and serious sexual offences?


Rape on Trial continues with the second of our two-part season opening.


We're back in the public gallery of Crown Court for the final days of Tariq's trial for rape and false imprisonment in a case the conventional wisdom tells us shouldn't result in conviction: one person's word against another's; no forensic evidence; delayed report; young, black complainant; a defendant claiming consent; and an allegation the defence say is motivated by shame and regret.


Will the jury's deliberations and assessment of the evidence be biased by rape myths and gender stereotypes? Or will the evidence satisfy the jury of Tariq's guilt?


Topics covered in this episode: defendant's evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; judge's directions in a rape trial; closing speeches; the verdict; the reported impact of rape myths and stereotypes in jury deliberations.


Rape on Trial is a must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> <![CDATA[1. Tariq's Trial part 1]]> Sun, 24 Aug 2025 11:38:17 GMT 1:28:20 68aaf9a7e2f63983a7524345 true https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/1-tariqs-trial-part 68aaf9a7e2f63983a7524345 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 1-tariqs-trial-part Rape on Trial full 1 1 Want to know what the investigation and prosecution of rape and serious sex offences really looks like in the UK today?


In this, the first of two introductory episodes taking us straight to the heart of criminal process, we're in a Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales watching a real-life rape trial; the kind of case heard up and down the country every day.


Tariq* is charged with rape and false imprisonment. It's a case that, according to the mainstream narrative, has little chance of resulting in convictions: one person's word against another's; no forensic evidence; no injuries; delayed report; young, black complainant; a defendant claiming consent and that the allegation was prompted by regret and embarrassment on the complainant's part.


Join me, Dr Candida Saunders, in the public gallery watch real proceedings in a real rape trial.


Let's see for ourselves what really happens.


*To protect the identity of complainants, and all other parties involved in the trial, proceedings are fully and meticulously anonymised.


Topics covered in this episode: Prosecuting counsel's opening speech; vulnerable and intimidated witnesses under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 and the availability and use of special measures; cross-examination of a rape complainant; agreed evidence; admissibility of 999 call; evidence of recent complaint; agreed facts; evidence of the officer in the case and account of the accused's police interview.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Want to know what the investigation and prosecution of rape and serious sex offences really looks like in the UK today?


In this, the first of two introductory episodes taking us straight to the heart of criminal process, we're in a Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales watching a real-life rape trial; the kind of case heard up and down the country every day.


Tariq* is charged with rape and false imprisonment. It's a case that, according to the mainstream narrative, has little chance of resulting in convictions: one person's word against another's; no forensic evidence; no injuries; delayed report; young, black complainant; a defendant claiming consent and that the allegation was prompted by regret and embarrassment on the complainant's part.


Join me, Dr Candida Saunders, in the public gallery watch real proceedings in a real rape trial.


Let's see for ourselves what really happens.


*To protect the identity of complainants, and all other parties involved in the trial, proceedings are fully and meticulously anonymised.


Topics covered in this episode: Prosecuting counsel's opening speech; vulnerable and intimidated witnesses under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 and the availability and use of special measures; cross-examination of a rape complainant; agreed evidence; admissibility of 999 call; evidence of recent complaint; agreed facts; evidence of the officer in the case and account of the accused's police interview.


A must listen for those studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.


As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.


Legal English Learning Practice

Legal English Comprehension Practice

Legal English Vocabulary

Applied Legal English

Legal English in the courtroom

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Season Trailer Season Trailer Sat, 23 Aug 2025 13:21:19 GMT 2:21 68a9c04ea04c35d2c9bd397b false https://shows.acast.com/criminal-justice-in-action/episodes/season-trailer 68a9c04ea04c35d2c9bd397b 68a9bc65352b565deb015a62 season-trailer Rape on Trial trailer 1 Introducing Criminal Justice in Action’s first season, Rape on Trial, where we examine how rape and serious sexual offences are investigated and prosecuted in England and Wales: a probing, comprehensive, and, crucially, evidence-based look at how the criminal process works in these cases in practice, when it doesn't, and why it matters.


Whether you're a student of law, criminology, social sciences, criminal justice, psychology, gender studies or similar, undertaking policing studies or the Bar Practice Course, if you're a criminal justice practitioner or policy maker, or simply someone who is curious to gain a real-world understanding of how the criminal process deals with rape and sexual assault cases in practice, rather than in theory, Rape on Trial is for you.


Subscribe now to make sure you never miss an episode.

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Introducing Criminal Justice in Action’s first season, Rape on Trial, where we examine how rape and serious sexual offences are investigated and prosecuted in England and Wales: a probing, comprehensive, and, crucially, evidence-based look at how the criminal process works in these cases in practice, when it doesn't, and why it matters.


Whether you're a student of law, criminology, social sciences, criminal justice, psychology, gender studies or similar, undertaking policing studies or the Bar Practice Course, if you're a criminal justice practitioner or policy maker, or simply someone who is curious to gain a real-world understanding of how the criminal process deals with rape and sexual assault cases in practice, rather than in theory, Rape on Trial is for you.


Subscribe now to make sure you never miss an episode.

The research behind Rape on Trial also features in our book: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials (BUP 2025). 


https://amzn.to/49oVqG2


This is an Amazon affiliate link which pays me a small commission. 


If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please visit our website https://criminaljusticeinaction.com for information about help and support.


Music: Hopeless Waltz by Alena Smirnova.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>