A barrister co-defending with me in a crown court trial pulled no punches when he began his cross-examination of an expert witness with this question: “Are you going to apologise for your incompetence now or at the conclusion of your evidence?”
The 30 minutes that followed was a masterclass in how to cross-examine an expert; and a masterclass in how not to give expert evidence.
It might seem obvious that any expert should be a knowledgeable and impressive witness, but the truth is some experts are better than others.
Every barrister has a tale about how they undid an expert in cross-examination, but in too many cases the experts are not sufficiently knowledgeable.
One police drugs expert recently admit...
This article is part of our subscription-based access. Please pick one of the options below to continue.
Already registered? Login to access premium content
The Corporate IP Licence is tailored to your firm, making it the most cost effective way for the firm to access Solicitors Journal, and enables the firm to remain compliant with copyright and our Terms and Conditions. This gives you the ability to print and circulate articles within the firm.
To enquire about a Corporate IP Licence for your firm, please contact our Subscriptions Manager on george.miller@solicitorsjournal.com.
