Role of forensic and medical sciences in the investigation prevention torture and other ill-treatment 2014, para. 48
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Forensic evidence is a type of expert evidence. The purpose of expert evidence is to provide the court with information based on scientific methods, the interpretation of which is outside the experience and specialized knowledge of a court. It is the task of the court to decide whether there is a need for expert evidence, to order its procurement and to establish the competency of each expert witness. Accordingly, where forensic evidence forms only part of the total factual matrix, as in most cases, the issue for a decision-maker in a criminal trial is to determine what use can and should be made of that forensic evidence.
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Non-negotiated soft law
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Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment