Anyone can go along to watch a case in court from the public gallery but we seldom get to see the many legal processes which have led up to the trial.
Those unseen processes will be explored in Behind Closed Doors – the Journey from Arrest to Sentence, a special event hosted by the University of Winchester’s Faculty of Law Crime and Justice as part of Winchester Cathedral’s Law Week.
The event will follow the progress through the criminal justice system of the accused ‘Miss Scarlett’ who has been arrested following the murder of wealthy ‘Doc Black’.
In a reversal of roles Miss Scarlett will be asking the questions and she will be putting them to real-life police officers, lawyers and even a judge.
Miss Scarlett will be played by Amelia Riviere – a former magistrate and High Sheriff of Hampshire – who has devised the event.
Also taking part will be Her Honour Judge Angela Morris, Chief Inspector Korine Bishop, solicitor Chloe Jay of law firm Shentons, and barristers Nick Tucker and Liam Hunter who will be quizzed on their roles by Amelia/Miss Scarlett.
At the end of the process, when justice has been seen to be done, the audience will have the chance to ask their own questions.
Amelia said: “There is little or no education about how the criminal justice system functions and it can be a confusing and frightening place. I’d really like to expose the unknown and the safeguards that exist in criminal justice.”
Bill Davies, the Dean of the University’s Faculty of Law, Crime and Justice, said: “An event like this gives the public and our students a privileged close-up view of how the criminal justice system really works.
“We endeavor to give students as much contact with real-world practitioners as possible. Seeing such high-level professionals from the judiciary, legal profession, and the police ‘in action’ in this behind-the-scenes scenario will be an extremely valuable learning opportunity.”
Behind Closed Doors takes place The Stripe Auditorium on the King Alfred Campus on 9 October from 7.30pm. Tickets are priced £12 for adults and £6 for concessions.
To book tickets or to find out more about this and other Law Week Events visit Winchester Cathedral | Law Week Festival (winchester-cathedral.org.uk).
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