Many medical experts from a variety of specialties, but in particular accident and emergency, may be called upon to advise the court as to the nature, extent and potential consequences of injuries suffered by the victims of crime. In this case the two accident and emergency experts provided reports which assisted the sentencing judge and were sufficiently detailed to assist the Court of Appeal when considering the submission by the Attorney general that the sentencing judge incorrectly categorised the level of harm resulting the stabbing of two men at an underground station. The case illustrates how medical experts should report on the injuries of the victims of crime and the information that the court requires in order to categorise the severity of their injuries. 

R v Green [2026] EWCA Crim 1003 

Colin Holburn is an EWI fellow, governor and founding member. A consultant in accident and emergency medicine, he has been practising as an Expert Witness for over 30 years. He tells us why he still loves Expert work and shares his advice for those interested in getting into the field.

The court considered that there was some substance to the criticisms of an accident and emergency expert for not dealing with matters in his primary report which he then agreed in the joint report with the opposing expert (who had included the issues in his primary report). These were however criticisms for failing to deal with points, rather than criticisms of the opinions he actually expressed in his primary report.