Forensic psychology - 1.2 The case for the defence

Unreliable, because of the approach to interviewing that was taken, which included many leading questions.

Reliable, because both witnesses provided similar descriptions.

Unreliable, because witnesses are just unable to provide accurate descriptions of the appearance of a perpetrator.

Reliable, because the witnesses were interviewed separately, thus avoiding the effects of co-witnessing.

This is the correct answer. Much of the evidence collected by DI Bullet was actually first suggested by him in leading questions in order to confirm his existing theories.

You may find 3.3.5 Types of questions useful.

This is incorrect. Not only had the witnesses previously shared accounts, but a lot of the information was provided to them post-event through leading questions asked at the interview.

You may find 3.3.5 Types of questions useful.

This is incorrect. Although describing a face and other personal characteristics can be problematic, witnesses are much more accurate at providing descriptions of sex, age and ethnicity, for example.

You may find 3.3.4 Memory, questioning and suggestibility useful.

This is incorrect. Although they were interviewed separately, they had previously had a chance to share account. Moreover, even when interviewed alone, there are many other factors that can lead to the evidence obtained being unreliable.

You may find 3.3.4 Memory, questioning and suggestibility useful.

Q3. ‘Several members of the public identified the accused from the Photofits.’ This piece of evidence is:

Unreliable, because not every person who saw the photofits identified the accused.

Unreliable, because facial composites generate potential suspects and should not be used as evidence concerning the identity of the perpetrator.

Reliable, because several members of the public identified the same person.

Reliable, as the composites did resemble the two people being accused.

This is incorrect. Facial composite images are not used in a way that requires everyone who sees them to identify the same person. Indeed, it is expected that they will generate different suspects.

You may find 5.2.4 Comparing E-FIT and EFIT-V useful.

This is the correct answer.

You may find 5.2.4 Comparing E-FIT and EFIT-V useful.

This is incorrect. Regardless of how many people think they recognise the same person from the facial composite, this is not how such images are supposed to be used.

You may find 5.2.4 Comparing E-FIT and EFIT-V useful.

This is incorrect. They may have resembled the accused, but how many other people did they also resemble, maybe even resemble better than the accused.

You may find 5.2.4 Comparing E-FIT and EFIT-V useful.

Q4. ‘Both eyewitnesses identified the two men accused in line-ups.’ This piece of evidence is:

Reliable, as both witnesses picked the same two people.

Reliable, because a simultaneous style was used to present the images in the identification parade.

Unreliable, as not only were biased instructions and unfair parades used, but the witnesses may have identified the accused due to unconscious transference.

Unreliable, because nine photographs were used and this is just too many for a witness to deal with effectively.

This is incorrect. Regardless of the decision made by the witness, an identification parade is only reliable if it was conducted in an unbiased fashion.

Have a look back at Week 6.

This is incorrect. Research suggests that simultaneous presentation is more likely to lead to a misidentification than if the images are presented one at a time (sequentially).

You may find 6.1.1 Simultaneous vs sequential presentation useful.

This is correct. The instructions used by DI Bullet strongly suggested that the perpetrator was definitely present in the parade, not all of the pictures were a good match for the suspect and the witness had seen photos of the suspects previously in a mug-shot album, which could have lead to unconscious transference.

Have a look back at Week 6.

This is incorrect. When you think about it, the more images that are used, the less likely it is that the witness will select an innocent suspect by chance alone. Identification parades containing nine images are routinely used.

You may find 6.1.1 Simultaneous vs sequential presentation useful.

1.2 The case for the defence

Activity 1 Evaluate the prosecution’s evidence (DI Bullet’s case)