Registration now open for 2026 EURO LEVA Training Symposium (London)
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...
The Case for Restricting Comparison Opinion Evidence on Identification by Lay Witnesses
What is the scope for video technicians or analysts to offer their opinion on the identification of suspects observed in CCTV and other images based solely on their observation of such images and their subsequent comparison to known images of suspects? Should opinions on identification be allowed at all? If so, should there...
Request for your assistance in multinational image-based evidence research survey
I am one of five researchers from the UK, US, and Canada undertaking a new research project surveying investigators who use image-based evidence as part of their criminal investigation work (User Survey) AND also subject matter experts. If you are a LEVA CFVT or CFVA, you would qualify for the Subject Matter Expert...
Height Determination Through Photogrammetry: Expert Evidence Rejected by Court
When only one expert witness is presented at trial, the Court may find it difficult to critically evaluate the expert evidence. If the evidence is not controversial and both sides agree with the findings, this will be a non-issue. However, when the evidence is contentious, a one-sided presentation is more problematic. While skillful...