Page last updated on Thursday, January 6 2005 at 1929 UK

Computer expert witness

Oral and written testimony presented by recognised experts

The rules by which an ‘Expert’ Witness is defined vary from country to country. Some legal jurisdictions require that a person is formally approved and registered before their evidence can be deemed to be ‘expert’; others rely on knowledge and experience.

In any case, it is up to the presiding Justice to decide whether a witness can be deemed to be an ’Expert’ or not in a particular case.

In the United Kingdom, Expert Witnesses are often called upon to give their opinion in cases where the Court alone cannot form its own opinion on the basis of the given facts.

‘Expert’ vs ‘Ordinary’ Witnesses

In both criminal and civil cases, the opinions of witnesses are not normally admissible. They are limited to stating the facts as they have witnessed them. It is then the responsibility of the judge and jury to draw inference from the facts to which the witness testifies.

On occasion, however, a Court is required to consider issues which are so far removed from the Court’s own experiences that it needs to obtain the opinion of experts in a particular field to help it determine the issue in question.

Types of Expert Witness

Expert Witnesses fall into two categories…

as an Expert Witness of fact: meaning a specialist who can state as fact that a particular event or sequence of events occurred in a specific instance, based on his expert knowledge of that instance;
as an Expert Witness given an opinion: meaning a specialist who, from his own knowledge and experience, can give an opinion on why a particular event of sequence of events did (or did not) occur.

TKM Technologies’ Expert Witnesses

TKM Technologies' lead expert witness is an accredited member of both the Expert Witness Institute and the British Computer Society. He oversees all investigations which are likely to culminate in the need for an expert witness to give evidence in Court.

Our forensic examiners and investigator combine an in-depth knowledge of their specialist field with courtroom experience and a thorough understanding of the duties involves in giving expert testimony.

We provide reports and courtroom testimony which lay out our expert opinion in terms which are readily understood by a non-technical audience. We provide statements in cases where we have carried out the investigation as well as in rebuttal of findings submitted by other parties.

Our Involvement in UK Law

TKM Technologies is involved in reviewing and commenting on British legal principals and has been consulted in matters such as the Criminal and Civil Procedure Rules. We maintain this involvement as part of our commitment to delivering robust, up-to-date services.

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