Author: Sarah Ford

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R -v- David Cullen Bain

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Case of disputed utterance in emergency call following family’s murder |

David Bain was famously retried subsequent to the quashing of his conviction for murder of five family members.  J P French gave expert evidence and reports to a preliminary voir dire hearing about the questioned audio.  Our report was also used later by the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

High Court, Christchurch, New Zealand.  November 2008.

Report used by Court of Criminal Appeal and Supreme Court of New Zealand in deciding admissibility of audio evidence March 2009.  Produced report and gave evidence via video link.

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The State of Ghana -v- Kwabena Amaning & Alhaji Issah Abbass

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Authentication of recordings in Ghanaian narcotics case |

We authenticated a number of recordings and analysed the speech in Ghanaian and English.  To do this, J P French Associates recruited and trained a native speaker and Professor in linguistics from Accra to assist in the analysis.  the evidence was produced in reports and also in person to the High Court in Accra.

High Court, Accra, November 2006 – November 2007.

Instructed by the State of Ghana.  Produced reports, transcript and gave expert witness testimony.

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United Nations -v- Slobodan Milošević

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at The Hague |

J P French Associates authenticated a number of recordings in the trial of Slobodan Milošević for Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and Violations of the Laws or Customs of War.  We were instructed independently of the prosecution or defence in this case, and provided reports for the Tribunal Judges.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, The Hague, 2003-2006.
Instructed on behalf of Tribunal Judges (ie, independent of prosecution and defence).  Produced report.

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R -v- John Humble

‘The Yorkshire Ripper Hoaxer’ trial |

J P French Associates analysed the voice and speech patterns in a police interview recording made 26 years after the original hoax tapes received by the police.  The recordings were authenticated and speaker comparison provided evidence that lead to John Samuel Humble admitting that he was in fact the hoaxer.  The analysis was so extraordinary, given the length of delay, that the findings were published in a scientific journal article.

Leeds Crown Court, March 2006.

Instructed by the Crown.  Produced report.

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R -v- Abu Hamza al-Masri

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Trial of radical Muslim cleric |

We provided speaker comparison evidence in the trial of Abu Hamza al-Masri.  He was charged with soliciting murder, inciting racial hatred, possession of audio and video recordings for distribution to stir up racial hatred and possession of a document likely to be useful to a terrorist.

Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London. 2005-6.
Instructed by the Crown.  Produced report.

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Hashwani -v- Hashwani

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Expert speech evidence for the Sindh High Court |

J P French Associates provided authentication and voice comparison evidence in a civil case from Pakistan.  The evidence was delivered in York to the removed Sindh High Court.

Sindh High court (removed to England to hear expert evidence), 2005?
Produced report and gave evidence in person.

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The Prince Harry A-level Art Tape

In the matter of Sarah Forsyth -v- Eton College |

We produced a report verifying that the recordings made by Prince Harry’s Art teacher were authentic.

Employment Tribunal Hearing, Reading, Berks.
Judgment July 2005.  Produced report.

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R -v- Michael Latham

Acoustic reconstruction at murder scene |

J P French Associates designed and carried out a set of experiements to test claims by witnesses that they could hear specific words and sounds produced by a victim during her murder.  Using specialist recordings and equipment to recreate the conditions of the case, we provided evidence on the propogation of certain relevant sounds.

Bradford Crown Court, July 2005.

Instructed by the Crown.  Produced report.

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Aston Shootings: Letisha Shakespeare & Charlene Ellis

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R -v- Nathan Martin, Marcus Ellis, Michael Gregory, Rodrigo Simms & Tarfarwa Beckford |

J P French Associates were engaged to provide expert consultation and advice on the ability of an ‘ear witness’ (a witness who only heard the incidents) to recognise the voice of one of the defendants, Tarfarwa Beckford.  Mr Beckford was later cleared of all charges.

Leicester Crown Court, November 2004 – March 2005.
Instructed by the Defence for Mr Beckford.  Produced report.

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R -v- David Francis Bieber

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Trial for the murder of PC Ian Broadhurst and the attempted murder of PCs Neil Roper and James Banks |

We were engaged by the prosecution to compare the voice of the suspect placing bets with recordings from the scene of the shootings.  The report and witness testimony based on analysis of the voices contributed significantly to the conviction of David Bieber.
BBC news report on the speaker comparison evidence

Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Crown Court, November – December 2004.
Instructed by the Crown.  Produced report and gave evidence in person.