R -v- Asghar
From Flcasebook
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Case
Asghar, Rehan; Case No: T20050083
Type of case
Murder case
Venue
Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), London, February 2007
Linguist involved
John Olsson (instructed by prosecution)
Type of linguistic evidence
Assessment of Internet chat log
Summary of case
Defendant and victim were acquaintances. Defendant was heard to 'insult' victim's female friend. Victim took exception, challenged defendant to fight. Defendant was losing fight and drew out a knife, stabbing victim several times. Incident witnessed by approximately 12 youths.
Linguistic input
Defendant and friend discussed the fight on the Internet the night before it occurred. The word 'jooking' was used several times. Officers requested the linguist to assess any possible meanings of 'jooking' in the context of the chat log. Linguist proposed several meanings, including punching and stabbing, and suggested of these stabbing appeared the most likely given the context. Linguist was opposed by a slang lexicographer who proposed that the meaning was more likely to be punching. Linguist was called for evidence, examined and cross-examined. The defence then declined to call their expert. Note: linguist was not informed of how the victim had died, only that a death had occurred, and nor was he informed that there had been witnesses to the fight, or that CCTV had recorded part of the incident. Linguist was not given defendant or victim's name prior to appearing in court. The prosecution case was supported by other, forensic, evidence.
Outcome
Defendant found guilty.
