Module No. 24-7077 00S

DEPARTMENT OF LAW, CRIMINOLOGY & COMMUNITY JUSTICE

MODULE: MSc Forensics: Criminal Litigation

LEVEL:7

SEMESTER ONE ASSESSMENT 2012/13

______

'it is simply wrong in principle for an expert to fail to set out the way in which he has reached his conclusion in his report….using a Bayesian approach…to formulate opinions placed before a jury without that process being disclosed and debated in court is contrary to principles of open justice.

R v T [2011] 1 Cr. App. R. 9 [at 108].

Describe, and critically analyse, how successful criminal courts have been in understanding the Bayesian approach. Consider how experts can utilise case management to fully develop, and clarify, their reasoning.

Assessment criteria:

1.Demonstrate an ability to identify, and apply, relevant legal authorities.

2.Demonstrate an ability to devise, and sustain, legal argument with law in support.

3.Use legal methodology to understand criminal litigation and present logical arguments.

4.Demonstrate an ability to use law to make, and justify, decisions from factually incomplete, and ambiguous, scenarios.

5.Write using clear, concise English.

6.Reference work consistently.

______

Please Note:

  • The word limit for this assignment is 3000 words. The word limit does NOT apply, however, to materials listed in your bibliography, table of cases or table of statutes, or footnotes. Only references should be placed in your footnotes, (case citations, statutes, journal articles etc). Any additional material in your footnotes other than the above will be disregarded by your marker. If you are using Harvard referencing then these references need NOT be included in your word count.
  • Please state the number of words used at the end of the assignment.
  • Please double-space to facilitate annotation.
  • Work which is more than 10% over the word limit cannot receive a mark of more than 40%.
  • You must submit a paper copy in the normal way and an electronic copy to the module blackboard site. See your module blackboard site for guidelines relating to the submission of your work.
  • You must retain a copy of your work. Failure to produce a copy on request will result in a mark of ZERO.
  • All students are asked to be aware of the current standard university regulations regarding non attendance at an exam or the submission of coursework: please note that these state that if you do not hand work in by the hand in date or do not attend an exam you may FAIL the task. If you are unable to meet the coursework deadline you are advised to complete one of the following forms, either an EER1 or an EC1. Please also be aware of the differences between Exceptional Extension Requests and Extenuating Circumstances.(Go to shuspace, then Support & Information, then Useful Information, then Rules and Regulations or follow the link below.)
  • Plagiarism: The unattributed use of others’ work may result in your assignment being given a mark of zero, and have more serious repercussions for your academic (and later, professional) career. When quoting from books and articles always use quotation marks and give the name of the author, the work and the page number in brackets following the quotation. See further “Advice on Preparing and Presenting Law Courseworks”
  • Please see assignment diary ( for dates & guidelines relating to the submission of your work.
  • The coursework submission date and deadline is 17th December 2012.
  • Coursework sent by fax or by email will not be accepted.
  • Submitting coursework by post

If you are unable to submit your coursework in person, you may post in your assignment. Your assignment must be posted, and therefore postmarked, no later than the deadline submission date.

You are advised to obtain a proof of posting certificate.

When received by the assignment management team, they will send you a receipt (email and/or paper).

Postal address is:

Sheffield Hallam University, Faculty of Development & Society

Assignment Management, 118 Southbourne

Sheffield S10 2BP