Practical Guide to Evidence / Christopher Allen

Development and Current Objectives. Documentary and Real Evidence. Facts not Requiring Proof. Competence and Compellability. The Course of Testimony. Burden and Standard of Proof and Presumptions. The Rule Against Hearsay. Hearsay Exceptions. Hazardous Evidence. Confessions and Ill-gotten Evidence. Character Evidence. Opinion Evidence. Judicial Findings as Evidence. Privilege and Public Interest Immunity. Estoppel

Practical Guide to Evidence provides a clear and readable account of the law of evidence, acknowledging the importance of arguments about facts and principles as well as rules.

The fourth edition has been revised and updated to address the radical changes brought about by the Criminal Justice Act 2003, particularly in relation to hearsay, character evidence and opinion evidence and to expand coverage of the Human Rights Act 1998.

Particular attention is given to changes made by the revised Codes of Practice, and to the growing body of case law on topics such as reverse burden of proof, the cross-examination of rape victims, evidence obtained by entrapment, and silence in the face of police questioning.

Now including enhanced pedagogical support such as chapter summaries, further reading advice and boxed examples, this leading textbook can be used on both undergraduate and professional courses.