EWJ August 62 2025 web - Journal - Page 36
Reconstructing the Truth: How
Forensic Collision Analysis Helped
Acquit a Driver in a High-Profile
Murder Case
This case study is drawn from a recent webinar delivered by Chris Goddard, Forensic
Collision Consultant at Forensic Access, which explored how careful forensic analysis can
help uncover the truth and shape the outcome of even the most serious criminal cases.
Forensic collision investigation is a highly specialised
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discipline that applies scientific principles to the reconstruction of road traffic incidents. A collision investigator uses mathematics, physics and engineering
to establish, as accurately as possible, how and why a
collision occurred. This involves careful analysis of vehicle movements, braking patterns, road conditions
and the surrounding environment to create an
objective reconstruction of the events.
The defence legal team required an expert to review
the prosecution evidence, ensure that the technical
facts of the case were fully understood, and help the
jury reach a conclusion on whether the collision was a
deliberate act or an unfortunate accident.
Background:
The incident took place at night on a 30mph road,
where a car was following two motorcyclists as they
travelled towards a junction. As the motorcyclists
slowed to prepare for a right turn, the car collided
with the rear of both motorcycles. The prosecution alleged that the driver had deliberately caused the collision, and the case was brought to court as a charge of
murder.
By interpreting the physical evidence left behind after
a crash, the investigator can provide the court with a
clear, impartial and scientifically supported explanation of the events that took place. This expert insight
helps courts move beyond speculation and ensures
that decisions are grounded in factual evidence.
The scene was partially captured on CCTV, which
became a central piece of evidence. However, initial
police analysis had not accounted for all the available
data or the complexities of human response in
high-pressure driving situations.
Introduction to the Case:
Forensic Access was instructed to provide an expert
collision investigator to uncover the facts. Chris Goddard was the expert called to apply forensic expertise
to a fatal road traffic collision involving a car and two
motorcycles. The driver of the car was facing prosecution for murder following an incident where his
vehicle struck two motorcycles at speed.
EXPERT WITNESS JOURNAL
The Challenge:
At the heart of this case was a critical and complex
question: was the collision a deliberate act of violence
or the tragic result of a high-speed misjudgement? Expert input was vital because the collision investigation
needed to:
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AUGUST/SEPT 2025
