Cross Examination

Cross Examination has been widely represented in the media, be it in case of witness-to-fact or an expert witness. Here are a few representations of the same...

So fasten your seat belts as you are now going to jump into the sea of movies, shows, actual courtroom clippings and documentaries that depict cross-examination.

Pink (2016)

"Na’ sirf ek shabd nahi… apne aap mein pura vakya hai. Ise kisi tark, spashtikaran, explanation ya vyakhya ki jaroorat nahi hoti." - Pink

Pink is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language legal thriller film directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and written by Shoojit Sircar, Ritesh Shah and Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury. The plot revolves around a sexual assault victim who unjustly tried for the attempted murder of her attacker, is defended by a retired lawyer who challenges India's rape culture. Cross examination of a witness can be seen in one of the scenes in the movie where Deepak Sehgal (played by Amitabh Bachchan) is questioning the lady officer who wrote the FIR against Minal Arora (played by Taapsee Pannu). The timestamp of the above mentioned scene is 1:33:50hrs- 1:38:00hrs.

Source: Netflix

How to get away with a murder

How to Get Away with Murder is an American legal thriller television series that aired in 2020. It's plot focusses on a brilliant criminal defense attorney and law professor Annalise Keating, with five of her students becoming involved in a twisted murder case. In one of the episodes, cross examination of a witness can be seen where Annalise (Viola Davis) conducts an intense cross-examination during a sensitive case. To see the clip, visit- https://youtu.be/s-WFfUQqtCI

Source: Netflix

Law School

Law School is a South Korean, legal television series that aired in 2021. Set in Hankuk University Law School, the series tells the story of students and professors in the law school who come across an unusual case. A drama about the process of prospective lawyers realizing authenticity, law, and justice. Throughout the drama, a lot of legal proceedings, the background work and legal knowledge is shared with the audience. In one particular episode, the prosecutors can be seen cross-examining a medical experts. The time stamp for the above mentioned episode is- Episode 12- 7:50-8:52 mins & 13:45-14mins.

Source: Netflix

CA v. Robert Durst Murder Case

In the long-standing trial of Robert Durst who was convicted of murder of his wife and suspected of serial killings was believed to have killed his close friend Susan Berman before New York police could interview her about the 1982 disappearance of Durst's wife. Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, a psychologist was called in to testify for the defendant as a memory expert. The actual trial proceeding can be seen in the following video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zB7xwoHCwk

Legally Blonde

Legally Blonde is a 2001 American comedy film directed by Robert Luketic. The plot revolves around Elle Woods, a fashionable sorority queen, who is rejected by her boyfriend. She decides to follow him to law school, but while there, she figures out that there is more to her than just looks. In one very comic scene where Elle was cross-examining, something surprising happens. In a scene that looked no more than a mockery, the witness confesses to her crime, thereby turning a failed cross-examination into a powerful one. To explore the scene, check out the clip- https://youtu.be/T4CrofrMO-s

Source: Amazon Prime Video

Young Mr. Lincoln

Young Mr. Lincoln is a 1939 American biographicaldrama film about the early life of President Abraham Lincoln, directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda. Focussing on his journey as a lawyer, the movie also shows his famous trails. Lincoln's cul-de-sac technique of cross examination can be seen in one of the scenes of the movie. To check out the scene, visit- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QogD4d54qTE&feature=youtu.be

Source: YouTube

Nicole Nachtman murder trial

In the following video, the murder trial of Nicole Nachtman, a former Florida State University student accused of two counts of first-degree murder, that of her mother and stepfather at their home in 2015, is underway, with the prosecution questioning the forensic psychologist. Dr. Charles Ewing, a Harvard University-Educated Forensic Psychologist, told the court he believes Nachtman was mentally ill at the time of the murders and didn't know what she was doing or the consequences of her actions.

Please visit the link - https://youtu.be/JYn0xhZW0qo

Source: YouTube

State (Florida) v. Markeith Loyd trial

In this video, Markeith Loyd is the Defendant and Dr. Jethrow Toomer is the Forensic Psychologist who is being cross-examined. On January 9, 2017, the defendant shot and murdered Police Lt. Debra Clayton as she attempted to arrest him on a warrant for the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend. Dr. Toomer diagnosed Loyd with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and psychosis. He concluded that Loyd understood what he was doing, didn't realise it was wrong, and was "crazy at the moment of Lt. Clayton's shooting." The cross-examining attorney can be seen interrogating the expert on a variety of topics, including his qualifications and competence, as well as the reason for his conclusions.

Source: YouTube