 |
TREC |
|
|
Home
|
Video Presentation in the Court Room The Physical Setup & Discussion (below picture)
Maxim Counselor presenting
video evidence should never operate video display equipment in the courtroom. Such
behavior is a distraction from oral presentation. A video/computer technician or
assistant should operate video/computer
equipment and display images at the direction of counsel, see below
Justification
For prior technology VCR display equipment, oral arguments/discussion in the courtroom can last longer than two minutes while one image is being viewed. VCR’s automatically stop after two minutes on pause; the monitor display goes blank. A video technician operating appropriate video equipment, using a jog/shuttle VCR can move the video tape – jog a small amount with no disturbance to the displayed image and prevent automatic stop – blank screen – after two minutes. Thus, discussion can continue for more than two minutes regarding one image with no disturbance.
Basic Strategy The video images may be difficult to view, dark, grainy, blurry, fuzzy, object of interest to small to easily detect. The information content maybe difficult to understand. Motion may be difficult to observe. For all the above reasons, the images displayed in Court may need to be shown more than once with discussion pointing out matters of concern in particular areas of interest. Motion may only be discerned by the playing of adjacent images back and forth a number to times. The original images must be shown, then the various enhanced images.
As each of these views, the original then various enhanced videos, is presented with oral explanation by counsel, with or without the assistance of an expert witness (in the field of Forensic Video Image Enhancement and Analysis). Repetitive viewing allows the activity of interest to be more fully comprehended. Each fashion of viewing the data leads to further comprehension of the information content therein. Justification of Each Viewing Fashion View 1 Raw Data represents the actual incident scene evidence and sets the stage for viewing subsequent image. View 2 Raw Data slowed down and intensity adjusted aids in comprehending the activity of interest. View 3 Enhanced images brings forth information content buried in the data hitherto not seen. Enhancement; enlargement, and resolution sharpening with intensity adjustment, leads to further image clarity accompanied by further comprehension of the information content in the video. Opposing Counsel Objection Opposing Counsel and/or the Court may object to the various views of essentially the same video information. The grounds for their objection may be "repetitive presentation of the same evidence" which is inadmissible and a waste of the courts time. Rebuttal Argument Each view of the data allows a further understanding of the information content. Each view has a corresponding justification of adding information of concern to the matter at hand. The court may not deny the jury as full and complete an opportunity for comprehension as possible. Denial would be a disservice to the Court and prejudicial. Court
Room Video Environment Most of today's Coatrooms have up to date video/image display environments, large screens, display projectors, laptop monitor connections and sometimes computers to accept display programs. Where such an environment does not exist, video equipment can be readily rented and delivered to the Courtroom. For the Jury In order for the Jury, especially those at the end seats in the Jury box, to see the video being displayed, without craning their necks, there is a need to rent/install two large screen 54 inch size monitors. Each monitor is placed comfortablely in front of the Jury for all, those at the end box seats too, to view the images. A video or VGA distribution amplified connection guarantees that all parties, Counsel, Jury and Judge, can have a connection to the distribution amplifier for their respective video monitors.
|
Copyright © 1998-2007 TREC All Rights Reserved Last Updated Sunday, November 08, 2009 |
