R v Malone
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R v Malone - 1997- EWCA Criminal
Linguist(s) involved
Malcolm Coulthard, University of Aston
Type of analysis
Disputed confession, textual analysis.
Summary of case
Linguistic evidence
Quote from judgement: The opinions expressed by Professor Coulthard based upon the grammar and linguistics used by D.I. Holt to record the conversation was hardly evidence of expert opinion and, insofar as it was, it seemed to us of little assistance. What is clear is that the notes of the conversation clearly fall into two parts, namely the indication (in one instance by D.I. Holt) of landmarks on the one hand and comments attributed to the appellant of what he did at those points on the other. Both Mr Davis and Mrs Reddick who had examined the notes for the respondent were of the view that alternate lines did show smaller writing. Professor Coulthard drew attention particularly to lines 9-15 on the second page suggesting that the syntax and construction supported the appellant’s claim that these lines were added. It was thus suggested that the tenth line, “... where I was going to park and hide but ...”, the 12th line, “... saw me and I thought he was going to follow ...” and “... P.C. was making some notes up ...” had all been added to the text after the appellant had signed the notes.
Academic references
None known
