Protocol produced to push use of electronic evidence
The electronic presentation of evidence (EPE) can reduce trial times by up to 20%, the Court Service said last month in the latest move to encourage its use.
The figure came in a protocol on using EPE produced by the Court Service in-court technology judicial advisory group, which also said the technology helped explain difficult concepts to juries.
EPE provides for the simultaneous display of evidence to all parties in a trial, via monitors permanently installed in the courtroom, using courtroom presentation software.
According to the protocol, an operator has to be supplied by the parties, while the party using EPE must train counsel fully.
Under the protocol, a core paper-based jury bundle must be provided by the prosecution for the purpose of making notes.
The jury will not have access to electronic images while considering its verdict.
It said that as a guide, the Inland Revenue - which has already piloted EPE along with the Serious Fraud Office - considers it appropriate to use EPE in cases where time estimates exceed four weeks.
Both bodies have reported that the electronic display of a complex series of documents has helped to make fraud trials easier for juries to follow.
The protocol is intended for use in the pilot schemes that are getting under way and will be reviewed afterwards.
The hardware and software has been installed in nine Crown Courts: Birmingham, Blackfriars, Bristol, Central Criminal Court, Kingston upon Thames, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester Crown Square, and Southwark.
The courts are using a Dell PowerEdge 350 with 72 gigabyte hard disc.
The operating system is Microsoft MS-Windows 2000 Professional, using MS-Office software.
LINKS: www.courtservice.gov.uk
Neil Rose
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