Reporting and Presenting Evidence in Court
This stage is always in logical order and comes last, all information is gathered within the stage and written up professional to be shown in a court of law. It is an important stage as it ensures there is a reason for all evidence and information to be taken to court to help prosecute an individual. An officer will take up the role to summaries the whole case and put it into a profession report, evidence, witness statements, analysis of evidence, photographs taken at the scene or evidential photographs and the suspects background history/ previous conviction will be documented for this shows it is an important stage to have as it can give more of an impact towards a prosecution taking place. All errors within the case will also be documented for so this can be shown in court, as if there is an error with collecting evidence none of this evidence will be used as it is unreliable.
Within the court setting, people may be asked to give statements and they will be questioned on this, this can be witnesses and also parents/ family of the deceased/ victim this can give the jury a bigger picture of what type of crime has occurred and what sanctions need to be give. If there are many witness statements to be given in court, this will be up to the court on what witness statement they believe is more important that other. Within the court the judge and jury will make a final decision on what actions need to be taken out next, will the suspect be convicted or not? CCTV footage may also be shown in the court as a piece of evidence, this can show where the crime occurred the time the crime occurred at and it can determine if the crime was deliberate or not. The CPS will present there evidence first against the suspect which will then be followed by the suspects alibi followed by a summary of both, the suspect will focus on making themselves look not guilty by going back on what the CPS has said.
Within the court setting, people may be asked to give statements and they will be questioned on this, this can be witnesses and also parents/ family of the deceased/ victim this can give the jury a bigger picture of what type of crime has occurred and what sanctions need to be give. If there are many witness statements to be given in court, this will be up to the court on what witness statement they believe is more important that other. Within the court the judge and jury will make a final decision on what actions need to be taken out next, will the suspect be convicted or not? CCTV footage may also be shown in the court as a piece of evidence, this can show where the crime occurred the time the crime occurred at and it can determine if the crime was deliberate or not. The CPS will present there evidence first against the suspect which will then be followed by the suspects alibi followed by a summary of both, the suspect will focus on making themselves look not guilty by going back on what the CPS has said.
The Soham Murders and Reporting and Presenting Evidence in Court
The Soham Murder trail for Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr began on the 5th of November 2003, over one year after Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells where murdered. Huntley denied all charges and said he has nothing to do with the murder or either girls, although when the CPS released the evidence they had about Huntley to link him the a double murder he changed his story. Huntley admitted that the girls did enter his house but he didn't intend to kill them, and that he was only part of Jessica's murder. He said that Holly Wells had died in the filled bath tub while controlling a nose bleed and that he had strangled Jessica while attempting to make her quiet but this was not deliberate. Although the police didn't believe this due to the lack of evidence to support it if Holly fell into the bath and drown the t-shirt she was wearing would have had blood and water samples on it, these weren't shown. The judge and Jury called Ian a liar and said that what he was admitting to couldn't have been true. Huntley was integrated by Mr Latham that quoted "the only way Holly could have drowned in the bath is if you where holding her under water" Huntley then replied "I wasn't holding her" this is vital evidence to show there was no way Holly Wells could have banged her head and drowned trying to control a nose bleed if there was no pressure pushing her under the water. Huntley was then asked by Mr Latham "you watched Holly drown?" Huntley replied "I just froze" Mr Latham then replied the truth by saying "Jessica would have pulled her friends head out of the bath". Huntley was described as "rattled" when Mr Latham questioned him about his story. Huntley's story wasn't believed by anyone due to his past convictions and the way he tried to cover the double murder up, he was jailed for at least 40 years and is still serving time there is little possibility he will leave prison throughout his life. To this day Ian Huntley still shows a lack of remorse to his victims families and hasn't apologised for his actions, he walks round jail in a replica of the Manchester United shirt both girls wore when they where murdered which shows disrespect.
Maxine Carr was also questioned on the 5th of November 2003 in court, this was for perverting the course of justice. Maxine gave Huntley a false alibi clamming she was with him at the time of the murders when she was in fact away visiting family. As Huntley was being question he quoted that Maxine did not know that he had killed Holly and Jessica, Maxine was question by Mr Coward and admitted to him that she was "trying to make Ian look better than he actually is". She stood up in court and said "he is an abusive man that controls you" Maxine made out to the judge and jury that Ian had made her give a witness statement for him but this has never been actually confirmed. It was seen that Maxine was in love with Ian and would do anything he said but she would also do anything for him, she also made out she was made to do this by saying "I was conscious I was going home to that man at the end of the day" if Maxine were to tell the police the correct story Ian would have been arrested and may never have seen Maxine again. This shows Maxine's story didn't add up, Maxine was also not believed by either the jury and judge and was jailed for three and a half years but was granted bail in May 2004 due to Carr being in danger through her actions she was given a new identity and was protected by the High Court.
Maxine Carr was also questioned on the 5th of November 2003 in court, this was for perverting the course of justice. Maxine gave Huntley a false alibi clamming she was with him at the time of the murders when she was in fact away visiting family. As Huntley was being question he quoted that Maxine did not know that he had killed Holly and Jessica, Maxine was question by Mr Coward and admitted to him that she was "trying to make Ian look better than he actually is". She stood up in court and said "he is an abusive man that controls you" Maxine made out to the judge and jury that Ian had made her give a witness statement for him but this has never been actually confirmed. It was seen that Maxine was in love with Ian and would do anything he said but she would also do anything for him, she also made out she was made to do this by saying "I was conscious I was going home to that man at the end of the day" if Maxine were to tell the police the correct story Ian would have been arrested and may never have seen Maxine again. This shows Maxine's story didn't add up, Maxine was also not believed by either the jury and judge and was jailed for three and a half years but was granted bail in May 2004 due to Carr being in danger through her actions she was given a new identity and was protected by the High Court.