Trupti Patel has been found found not guilty of murdering her three children. Her defence was aided immesurably by expert medical evidence provided by Professor Michael Patten. As is well known in criminal cases the prosecution also call their own expert evidence in an attempt to back up their case.
In my experience it’s perfectly possible to prove anything by coming up with an expert opinion. The trouble is science is just much more subjective than scientists like to think. It’s also worth remembering that he who pays the piper calls the tune and that in the English courts it’s still the norm to have two expert witnesses, each paid by a seperate party to the litigation.
The subjective nature of science when brought to the courtroom is the main reason I can’t take seriously those who call for the return of capital punishment. It’s just too easy to make mistakes in murder trials and there is no right of appeal when you are dead.
