Expert Witness

Original version

BBC One Channel Islands

Documentaries

Factual: Crime & Justice

Factual: Crime & Justice: True Crime

True crime series revealing how some of the UK’s most serious cases were solved.

How some of the UK’s most serious and complex cases were solved by the expertise of a band of unsung heroes – the expert witnesses. Gripping true crime stories.

BBC Two

BBC One London

London

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC One North West

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One Cambridgeshire

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

BBC One Oxfordshire

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One West Midlands

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

BBC One Wales

Wales

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

BBC One Yorks & Lincs HD

BBC One North West HD

BBC One Yorkshire HD

BBC One East Midlands HD

BBC One West HD

BBC One South HD

BBC One South East HD

BBC One South West HD

BBC One North East & Cumbria HD

BBC One Cambridgeshire HD

BBC One East HD

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region. Separated as BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One London HD

BBC One West Midlands HD

BBC One Channel Islands HD

BBC One Oxfordshire HD

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

Ashley John-Baptiste

Richard Weller

Emma Barker

Edward Hart

Liza Chambers

Expert Witness: Series 1: Pollen in a Field and Fibres in a Car Crash

Pollen in a Field and Fibres in a Car Crash

Series 1

BBC One - Expert Witness, Series 1, Pollen in a Field and Fibres in a Car Crash

The examination of pollen at a murder and fibres in a car crash help solve two crimes.

A body left in a field prompts the examination of pollen, establishing a new forensic discipline, and fibres fused with car wreckage prove who caused a fatal traffic collision.

When smouldering human remains are found in a field in Hertfordshire,  a policeman’s hunch and a diligent expert witness help catch the killers. 

Not every expert witness starts their career expecting to use their specialist knowledge to crack serious crime. The expert witness in this case began her working life recording pollen samples on archeological digs. But she then found herself central to an investigation into a brutal murder committed by a gang of criminals.

With constant advances in science, the evidence expert witnesses provide is increasingly important in the pursuit of justice. But finding such evidence is never easy. It takes time, patience and a calm head. 
 
Some of the toughest cases for an expert witness involve proving responsibility in major traffic collisions. The chaos created during a high speed crash can make finding reliable DNA, fingerprints or fibres impossible. But there is a scientific phenomenon that can leave an indelible clue on impact, and it’s how one expert witness helped to prove who was really responsible for causing a fatal crash.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Expert Witness

Series 1

Pollen in a Field and Fibres in a Car Crash

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC One Channel Islands

About BBC One