Handbook of Forensic Psychiatric Practice in Capital Cases


Control the pace of the evidence giving, and more particularly the questions asked, by taking time to consider your answers.


Appearing balanced and honest is likely to impress members of the jury and judges, as well as being ‘right’. Conceding points that clearly go against you contributes to a sense of reasonableness. Equally, if new evidence has emerged since you wrote your report and, as a result of that evidence, your conclusion has altered, if only somewhat, then it is right to be clear about this. If you do not know the answer to a question, then say so; any other response would be improper.


Be clear where your expertise ends; equally, express your view with confidence. If interrupted, finish your point, if necessary by way of recourse to the judge.


Beware of agreeing too readily with apparently innocuous propositions; listen carefully to the question and consider how it fits in with other questions that have been, or might then, be asked. Do not answer questions that are not asked. Giving an opinion qualified by caveats is perfectly acceptable, that is ‘yes, but...’.


Lawyers are trained to seek ‘yes or no’ answers; much of psychiatry is far from black and white. Te purpose is often to ‘disaggregate’ your evidence so as to dismantle it via ‘a thousand cuts’; where proper, referring to aspects of your evidence, and of facts, which mutually reinforce one another will maintain the integrity of the evidence. Te analogy of the building blocks of a structure reinforcing the support of one another is appropriate.


One of the roles of the judge is to ensure that the questioning process is fair and a witness can turn for guidance to the judge if they are concerned about the implications of answering a question as it has been posed, or if they do not understand a question, or if they believe that a question is beyond their expertise.


Te barrister from your side will subsequently try to repair any damage done in cross examination by way of ‘re-examination’.


Re-examination


Re-examination is, like the examination in chief, conducted by the legal representatives who instructed you to prepare the report. It is confined to an explanation of matters arising out of cross-examination, and no new facts or argument may be introduced without the leave of the court. Re-examination is generally short if the process of cross examination has been unsuccessful in undermining the expert’s opinion.


At the end of the evidence, and sometimes during, the judge can ask questions; answer them as carefully and thoroughly as you can. Sometimes this will involve explaining earlier answers given, or clarifying points made, or answering what amount to new questions which have occurred to the judge.


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