Forensic Speech and Audio Laboratory
Speaker comparison and transcripts in South Yorkshire murder trial |
We acted for the defence in this case and produced a transcript and a report on forensic speaker comparison. As part of the work we were asked to comment on a prosecution expert’s transcript, and attribution within that transcript, and produce our own version.
February 2014; Sheffield Crown Court before Mr Justice Staples, UK
Instructed by the defence, provided reports and transcripts and gave evidence in the witness box
Three Royal Marines Court-Martialled for murder of Afghan insurgent
In this case, we were instructed by the prosecution to transcribe the content of utterances and attribute them to Marines in videos made on a helmet-mounted camera. The camera was worn by ‘Marine B’ and filmed a team on a battle damage assessment after an Apache helicopter engaged an armed Afghan man. Three marines were charged and one, ‘Marine A’ – an experienced sergeant, was found guilty. The other two marines were acquitted. An article from the Guardian explains the role of the transcript:
Guardian article on transcript [25th October 2013]
October 2013; Bulford Military Court Centre, UK
Instructed by the prosecution, provided reports and transcripts and gave evidence in the witness box
Murder case in the state of Florida |
In this case, which received international attention, we were engaged by the defence to provide an expert assessment of speech evidence submitted. This testimony was entered into a Frye hearing on the admissibility of speech evidence where one sample featured distress screams. Using our experience and knowledge, and relying on research carried out in partnership with the University of York, we provided a number of conclusions which were put forward by Prof French via video-link. The Judge ruled in favour of the defence, stating:
Defense witness Dr. French, regarded as an international expert in the field of forensic speech analysis, has worked in the field since the late 1980′s. The Court found the testimony of Dr. French to be the most compelling of the witnesses presented.
June, 2013; Seminole court (Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida), Sanford, FLA.
Instructed by the defence, provided deposition and appeared in court.
ENF & authentication analysis in drug-trafficking trial |
In the case of Gary Moore & others, our authentication expert used Electrical Frequency Analysis (ENF) to determine whether a series of surveillance recordings had been edited. Alongside a range of other authentication techniques, the ENF system was able to determine that there was a very high probability that the police recordings had not been edited.
January 2013; Southwark Crown Court, UK
Instructed by the defence, provided reports and gave evidence in the witness box
Trials for multiple murders, including two police officers |
We were engaged to compare speakers in a number of recordings in this case, including the call made by Dale Cregan to the police to lure two police officers to a house where they were eventually murdered. We also analysed a call made after the shooting of two men in a pub. Dale Cregan eventually pleaded guilty, along with a group of his associates.
2012; Preston Crown Court, UK
Prepared reports for the prosecution
Conspiracy to blow up the London Stock Exchange and related terrorist charges |
In the matter of R -v- Mohammed Chowdhury, Gurukanth Desai, Nazam Hussain, Usman Khan, Omar Latif, Abdul Miah, Mohibur Rahman, Shah Rahman and Mohammed Shahjahan.
J P French Associates carried out transcription of a huge range of evidential materials in this terrorist case. Mr Justice Wilkie commended, and thanked us for, our analyses in his sentencing remarks: “the sterling work done by Professor French and his team of experts and expert transcribers” for the time taken to carry out the work which reduced the length of a potentially very costly trial.
Woolwich Crown Court, February 2012.
Instructed by the Crown. Produced reports and transcripts.
Trial for the ‘fertiliser bomb’ plot |
J P French Associates prepared a critique of an existing transcript and provided the court with a transcription in this case. The transcripts were made using covert recordings made of the suspects.
Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), November 2006
Instructed by the Defence. Produced reports, transcripts and gave evidence in person.
Public inquiry into the Bloody Sunday massacre |
J P French Associates were instructed to transcribe and authenticate a number of key recordings in this inquiry. The analysis revealed that a number of the items for analysis had been edited or redacted and that transcripts may have been produced from different exhibits.
Public Inquiry into events in Londonderry on Sunday, 1998-2010.
Instructed by the Saville Commission. Produced reports.
Trial of rapper ‘Snoopy Montana’ for attempted murder |
We produced transcripts of prison call recordings of two suspects in this case where two men were accused of trying to murder the pregnant partner of one of the defendants.
Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), London. 2009.
Produced evidential transcripts and gave expert testimony.
Trials for Directing and Membership of Al Qaeda |
J P French Associates were commended by the Greater Manchester Police for our “outstanding assistance … in connection with the prosecution of Rangzieb Ahmed and Habib Ahmed” for a number of terrorist offences. Various members of the firm carried out a range of forensic work including enhancement of recordings and transcription and speaker comparison in English, Urdu and Panjabi languages. The convictions in relation to Al Qaeda were the first of their kind in the UK.
Certificate of appreciation – GMP CTU
Manchester Crown Court, December 2008.
Instructed by the Crown. Produced reports, transcripts and gave evidence in court.