These are my my folder notes from my WJEC Criminology controlled assessment in which i received 99/100 marks; includes notes, model answers, case studies and answer checklists :)
*Unit 3.2 not included* I will upload for free once i recover the file!
assess key influences affecting the outcome of criminal cases
Written for
A/AS Level
WJEC
Criminology
Unit 3 - Crime Scene to Court Room
All documents for this subject (15)
30
reviews
By: allisongeorge12345 • 8 months ago
By: dariamurlak • 10 months ago
By: jacobjefferies • 11 months ago
By: lillywoodfine • 1 year ago
By: aisharehman237 • 1 year ago
By: abdi41925 • 1 year ago
By: graceselbyu • 1 year ago
Show more reviews
Seller
Follow
fudgeflies
Reviews received
Content preview
AC2.4 Assess key influences affecting the outcomes of criminal cases
Evidence
The evidence in a trial should have the main impact on the outcome. Each jury member
takes an oath (or affirmations) traditionally as follows:
I swear by almighty God that I will faithfully try the defendant and give a true verdict
according to the evidence.
The evidence must be only that presented in court in the form of physical or testimonial
evidence. It is up to each jury member or each magistrate to attach whatever weight they
consider appropriate to each piece of evidence.
In the law of England and Wales, the prosecution must bring evidence to prove the claim
they are making, this is known as the burden of proof. The standard of proof, in criminal
matters, is beyond a reasonable doubt or until the jury or magistrate are sure of the verdict.
If there is any doubt, there must be an acquittal. The defence does not have to prove
anything, although in practice they will try to cast as much doubt as possible on the
evidence.
Media
The media can affect the outcome of a criminal case. If a story is published, the public will
read it and could believe that the material printed is true, even if it is not. This may mean
that a suspect does not get a fair trial. Under English law, a person is innocent until proven
guilty, but if a jury has a preconceived idea from media reports, this could affect the
outcome of a trial. This is what is meant by 'trial by media' rather than a trial by jury on the
evidence presented in the courtroom.
Case study
Christopher Jefferies – was arrested and interviewed by the police in connection with the
murder of Joanna Yeates in 2010. However, he found himself the subject of a media frenzy,
appearing on the front page of the national newspapers. He was described as 'weird', 'lewd',
'strange', 'creepy', 'angry', 'odd', 'disturbing', 'eccentric', 'a loner' and 'unusual' in just one
article. Jefferies was, however, innocent and Vincent Tabak, Joanna's neighbour, was jailed
for life in October 2011 after being convicted of her murder. The newspapers were forced to
issue a public apology and paid substantial libel damages to Jefferies.
Witnesses
Both the prosecution and the defence are entitled to call witnesses in support of their case.
If the witness evidence can be agreed and is not in dispute, it can be read out in court in the
form of a statement. This prevents the witnesses from having to attend the court and give
evidence. However, if the witness evidence is contested, the witness must appear in court
to give their side of the story, which is called examination-in-chief. Witnesses can also be
asked questions by the other side or cross-examined. The jury are entitled to give as much
weight as they consider appropriate to witness evidence. So, if the witness is believable, this
could influence the jury towards whichever side the witness represents. Similarly, if the
witness appears to be unreliable, they may adversely affect the outcome of a case.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller fudgeflies. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.88. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
