The Authentication Conundrum: The Ground is Shifting
Given the proliferation of high-quality AI generated and altered real images, detecting images that lack authenticity is getting more challenging. It was not always this way. Until relatively recently, AI generated imagery involving people as subjects was easily detectable because of obvious body morphology anomalies such as extra limbs, fingers, toes, and improbable...
Video Experts: A ‘Must Have’ or ‘Nice to Have’ at Trial?
An issue that is sometimes raised at trial by counsel or the court is whether the expert testimony of a forensic video analyst is necessary to effectively present video evidence. Counsel may find themselves in the position where if they propose to call an expert, opposing counsel will argue that such expert evidence...
Update: 2026 EURO LEVA Training Symposium (London) postponed to 2027
Registration is now open for the inaugural 2026 EURO LEVA Training Symposium. It will be held at King’s College London on June 9-11, 2026. KCL is an excellent location for this event. It is in central London, very near the Thames River, and is easily accessible once in London. There will be three...
Video Analysis Errors in Murder Trial
A Canadian trial judge convicted the defendant of two counts of murder based on circumstantial evidence and the judge’s own comparison of questioned images of the shooter and known images of the defendant. The Court of Appeal set aside the convictions and substituted them with acquittals due to the trial judge’s flawed analysis...
Crying “Fake News!” Does Not Make It True
It is increasingly common for the prosecution to rely upon image-based evidence in criminal prosecutions. This evidence may take the form of videos derived from CCTV, smartphones, body worn cameras, and in-car cameras, as well as still images. Occasionally, the defence will also tender image-based evidence as part of their case. What happens...
2026 EURO LEVA Training Symposium announced!
LEVA has officially announced the inaugural 2026 EURO LEVA Training Symposium. It will be held at King’s College London on June 9-11, 2026. KCL is an excellent location for this event. It is in central London, very near the Thames River, and is easily accessible once in London. LEVA is committed to making...
Smartphone Video: Is Failure to Seize the Device Fatal to Admissibility?
Ideally, when witnesses record a video of an event on their smartphone, they would give their device to the police so that the video could be examined and exported in a forensically sound manner. What are the consequences when that does not occur? Are the police required to seize the smartphone that was...
2026 EURO LEVA Symposium
For those readers who are LEVA members or have attended LEVA training events, you will be aware that each year, LEVA holds a training symposium in the US. While that is helpful for North American attendees, it is rather far away for interested parties in Europe. LEVA has given the green light for...
Compilation Videos: Guidelines for Maximizing the Value of Multiple Camera Views
Opposing counsel frequently object to the use of compilation video presentations that have been prepared by video technicians and analysts. The stated reason for their objection is that such compilations are somehow improper or prejudicial to the interests of a fair trial but the real reason for most objections is that the compilations...
Advanced Visual Representations in International Criminal Prosecutions – Update
Earlier in 2024, I published an article on this site regarding the pending judgment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the case of Prosecutor v. Al Hassan. On June 26, 2024, the Chamber delivered its judgment. This article recaps the relevant case details and highlights the image-based evidence that was challenged by...