Expert Witness

Original version

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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.

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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.

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Expert Witness

Series 1

Pollen in a Field and Fibres in a Car Crash

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