AC 3.

1 Examine
information for validity
Validity
• Validity in this section means “does it have authority, weight,
strength, soundness” in other words “is it correct”?
• You should be able to examine key information sources, such as
evidence, trial transcripts, media reports, judgments, and law reports
in the media, and say whether or not they are accurate or not
considering possible problems of bias, opinion, circumstances,
currency, and accuracy.
Cases we already know that may apply
to this section:
• Sally Clark case – evidence invalid (p194) “Bromley” witness in
Damilola Taylor case – evidence inconsistent
• Barry George – judgment invalid as evidence my have been
contaminated (p195)
• Media reports misleading – Christopher Jeffries; Hillsborough Inquiry
in the Sun.
• Judgment from the Hillsborough inquiry. (Liverpool fans blamed and
failure to hold police to account.
Consider also
1. Evidence of eyewitnesses may be inaccurate – refer to Ronald Cotton case.
2. Forensic evidence, also Dr. Frank Skuse:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/law-report-scientist-defamed-skuse-
v-granada-television-court-of-appeal-sir-thomas-bingham-master-of-1452874.
html
3. Adam Scott – contaminated forensic sample.
https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/forensic-lab-error-led-to-miscarriage-
of-justice-/5503.article#:~:text=Adam%20Scott%20was%20wrongly%20accuse
d%20of%20raping%20a,at%20the%20lab%20were%20singled%20out%20for%
20criticism
.
4. Inaccurate reporting by a law reporter in the Telegraph:
https://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2011/05/06/telegraph-reporting-of-family-cas
e-unbalanced-inaccurate-and-just-plain-wrong/
5. Unintentional bias in court: Houses of Parliament Publication:
TASKS:
• Go to www.jeremy-bamber.co.uk
Based on the information on this website, do you think that the verdict
was valid?