International Criminal Evidence at the International Criminal Court : : A Defense Perspective / / G. Geert-Jan Alexander Knoops.

• Superior document: Human Rights and Humanitarian Law E-Books Online, Collection 2025
• VerfasserIn: Knoops, G. Geert-Jan Alexander,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden ;, Boston : : Brill | Nijhoff,, 2025.; ©2025
• Year of Publication: 2025
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Human Rights and Humanitarian Law E-Books Online, Collection 2025.; International Criminal Law Series ; 18.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (389 pages)

This book aims to provide readers with an overview of the rules of evidence within the International Criminal Court (ICC) and offers guidance for both prosecution and defense counsel. It emphasizes the pivotal role of defense counsel in shaping case law, particularly concerning the admissibility of documentary and forensic evidence, in a system still evolving. Drawing from academic research and practical experience, the book provides practical inside-information for defense counsel on evidence.

Table of Contents

Front Cover -- Half Title -- Series Information -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Contents -- Preface -- Abbreviations -- Table of Cases -- Part 1 General -- Chapter 1 The Essence and Functioning of Criminal Evidence -- Chapter 2 The Admissibility and Weight of International Criminal Evidence at Trial -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Evidentiary Relevance and Probative Value within the ICC -- 2.3 Procedural Aspects of 'Relevance' and 'Probative Value' -- Part 2 Direct Evidence -- Chapter 3 (Eye)witnesses at ICC Trials -- 3.1 Witness Dimensions -- 3.2 The Evidentiary Value of (Eye)witnesses -- 3.3 The Evidentiary Weight of (Eye)witnesses -- Chapter 4 Using (Anonymous) Hearsay Evidence -- 4.1 Hearsay Evidence in Domestic Law -- 4.2 Hearsay Evidence at the ICC -- 4.3 Hearsay Evidence in ICTY Jurisprudence -- 4.4 Analysis -- Chapter 5 Evidentiary Aspects of Insider Witnesses at the ICC -- 5.1 The Evidentiary Risks and Pitfalls of Insider-Testimony at the ICC -- 5.2 The Case Law on the Credibility and Reliability of Insider Witnesses -- Chapter 6 Rule 68 and Prior Recorded Witness Testimony -- 6.1 Evolution and Context of ICTY Rules 92bis et seq. -- 6.2 Other International ad hoc Tribunals -- 6.3 Rules 92bis et seq. ICTY RPE -- 6.4 ICC -- 6.5 Analysis and Future Issues -- 6.6 Conclusion -- Chapter 7 Using Witness Preparation at the ICC -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Statutory Law -- 7.3 Witness Preparation in Other Common Law Jurisdictions -- 7.4 Witness Preparation at the ad hoc Tribunals -- 7.5 Witness Preparation at the ICC -- 7.6 Conclusion -- Chapter 8 (Crosss-)Examining Witnesses at the ICC -- 8.1 Types of Cross-examination -- 8.2 ICTY Jurisprudence on Cross-examination of Witnesses -- 8.3 Applying Cross-examination Techniques in Trials before the ICC -- Chapter 9 The Defendant as Witness at His or Her Own Trial -- Part 3 Indirect Evidence.

Chapter 10 Circumstantial Evidence at the ICC -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Jurisprudential Denominations for Circumstantial Evidence -- 10.3 Circumstantial Evidence within ad hoc Tribunals -- 10.4 Challenging Circumstantial Evidence at Trial -- 10.5 Evidentiary Value and Requirements for Circumstantial Evidence -- 10.6 Increasing the Evidentiary Burden: the 'Shepherd Direction' Doctrine's Broad Application within the ICC -- 10.7 Conclusion -- Chapter 11 Evidentiary Principles of Corroboration at the ICC -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 The Purpose of Corroboration in Criminal Law -- 11.3 An Example of the Corroboration Principle Applied in Criminal Law -- 11.4 Corroboration under the ICC Framework -- 11.5 Elements of Corroboration in International Criminal Law -- 11.6 Conclusion -- Chapter 12 The Admissibility of 'Patterns of Conduct' as Evidence in (International) Criminal Cases -- 12.1 The Pendergrass Jurisprudence -- 12.2 'Pattern Evidence' at the ICC -- 12.3 Conclusion -- Chapter 13 The Evidentiary Value and Admissibility of 'Bad Character Evidence' and 'Propensity Evidence' -- 13.1 Introduction -- 13.2 Common Law Parameters of 'Bad Character Evidence' -- 13.3 Counterbalancing 'Bad Character Evidence' -- 13.4 The Admissibility of 'Propensity Evidence' at Trial -- 13.5 Conclusion -- Part 4 The Admissibility of Expert Evidence -- Chapter 14 The Admissibility and Evidentiary Value of Expert Evidence -- 14.1 Introduction -- 14.2 Upcoming Role of Forensic Sciences at the ICC -- 14.3 Towards a Uniform Admissibility Framework -- 14.4 Substantive Requirements of Expert Evidence -- 14.5 Testing Forensic Sciences in Court by Defense Counsel -- 14.6 Challenging Expert Evidence: Strategic Guidelines -- 14.7 Defense Strategies to Challenge Expert Witnesses before Trial -- 14.8 Guidelines to (Cross-)examine and Test Forensic Experts at Trial.

14.9 Defense Preparations to (Cross-)examine Experts at Trial -- 14.10 Joint Instructions to Forensic Experts -- 14.11 Disclosure Requirements -- 14.12 Cross-examination of Expert Witnesses -- 14.13 Examining Expert Evidence at Trial: the ECtHR Perspective -- 14.14 Conclusion -- Part 5 Documentary Evidence -- Chapter 15 Challenging Documentary Evidence at the ICC -- 15.1 Submission or Admission of Documentary Evidence at Trial -- 15.2 Foundation Conditions for Documentary Evidence and Exhibits at Trial -- 15.3 Conclusion -- Chapter 16 The Evidentiary Value of NGO and IO Reports at the ICC -- 16.1 Introduction -- 16.2 The Problematic Nature of NGO/IO Reports Used as Evidence -- 16.3 The Use of NGO/IO Reports at Different Stages of ICC Proceedings -- 16.4 The Admissibility of NGO Reports Based on Anonymous Sources -- 16.5 Conclusion -- Chapter 17 The Evidentiary Value of Social Media at the ICC -- 17.1 Introduction -- 17.2 Definitions and Relevant Concepts -- 17.3 General Evidentiary Pitfalls of Social Media Content -- 17.4 Specificities of MIM Evidence -- 17.5 Legal Framework in Construction -- 17.6 Social Media Evidence and the Right to a Fair Trial: the ECtHR Perspective -- 17.7 Conclusion -- Part 6 The Extent of Disclosing Exculpatory Criminal Evidence -- Chapter 18 The Extent of Disclosing Exculpatory Criminal Evidence -- 18.1 Introduction -- 18.2 The Evidentiary Meaning of 'Exculpatory Evidence' -- 18.3 Practical Implications Pertaining to the Defense Disclosure Burden -- 18.4 Towards a Different Disclosure System -- 18.5 Disclosure Mechanisms to Prevent Miscarriages of Justice -- 18.6 Conclusion -- Part 7 Weighing Evidence at ICC Trials -- Chapter 19 Evidence Presentation in ICC Trials -- 19.1 Practices at the ICC -- 19.2 Presentation of Evidence by Way of Leading Questions -- 19.3 Presenting Evidence at Opening and Closing Statements.

19.4 Conclusion -- Chapter 20 No Case to Answer Proceedings at the ICC -- 20.1 Introduction -- 20.2 Historical Background on 'No Case to Answer' Motions -- 20.3 Jurisprudence of International ad hoc Tribunals -- 20.4 Overview of 'No Case to Answer' Proceedings at the ICC -- 20.5 Conclusion -- Chapter 21 The Legal Position of the Acquitted Person at the ICC -- 21.1 Introduction -- 21.2 The (Non-)Right to Compensation for Any Acquitted Person at the ICC -- 21.3 Establishing a 'Grave and Manifest Miscarriage of Justice' in Practice -- 21.4 The Future of Acquitted Persons at the ICC: towards a Right to Compensation? -- 21.5 Conclusion -- Chapter 22 Overall Concluding Remarks and Recommendations -- Bibliography -- Index -- Back Cover.