Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't.
In this episode, we watch the final stages of Kevin's 'not a rape' rape trial.
Key topics and procedural elements covered: the defendant's evidence-in-chief and cross-examination; judge's directions; closing speeches from the prosecution and defence; addressing a client's previous convictions in closing; summary of the evidence and final directions; jury question; verdict; detailed discussion of what constitutes a verdict, how many jurors must agree to return a verdict, what 'guilty' and 'not guilty' mean, and how judge's deal with juries seeking clarification on the meaning of 'sure' or 'beyond reasonable doubt'.
Although put together with the general listener firmly in mind, Rape on Trial a must listen for those practicing or studying criminal law, criminal evidence and procedure, advocacy and trial strategy, criminal justice, and criminology as well as those interested in forensic linguistics and forensic psychology.
As a detailed and comprehensive account of real court proceedings in a criminal trial in an adversarial, common law legal system, this is also an excellent resource for international students learning Legal English, the Language of Law, and comparative law.
Legal English Learning Practice
Legal English Comprehension Practice
Legal English Vocabulary
Applied Legal English
Legal English in the courtroom