Expert witnesses in England

Criminal proceedings use a separate rule set. Part 19 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2025 applies where a party introduces expert opinion evidence. It requires the expert to help the court, give objective and unbiased opinion within the expert’s field, and comply with directions. Rule 19.3 controls the introduction of expert evidence and rule 19.4 specifies the report content. That criminal duty should not be confused with the civil Part 35 framework above.

Death investigation is also a distinct jurisdictional setting for medical evidence. Under section 1 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, a senior coroner must investigate where there is reason to suspect a violent or unnatural death, an unknown cause, or death in custody or state detention. The statutory investigation may culminate in an inquest.

The city pages identify the relevant Crown Court and coroner area. They do not repeat these national rules, which apply throughout England and Wales. In a criminal case, the court may need medical evidence on issues such as fitness to plead, cause of injury or cause of death; the procedural source is Part 19, not the civil rules.