Computer Evidence

Michael J L Turner MA FBCS CITP MAE FEWI RFP

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Michael J L Turner is an experienced forensic computer examiner and an established expert witness on computer evidence.

Computer Evidence is data from computer systems that is used as evidence in legal proceedings.

A forensic computer examination is an investigation that:

• complies with established computer forensic principles
• uses appropriate computer forensic techniques
• identifies data relevant to a case and
• produces exhibits for the court

Independent expert evidence helps the court to assess whether data from a computer system used as evidence is:

• original, authentic, accurate and or complete
• corroborated by other computer evidence
• correctly interpreted and
• reliable as evidence

Experience - Courts

Michael Turner has extensive experience of data examination and eighteen years' experience as an expert witness on computer data used as evidence in a very wide range of cases in:

• Civil courts (for Claimant and Defendant and as Single Joint Expert)
• Criminal courts (White-collar and general crime, for Prosecution and Defence)
• Employment Tribunals (for Applicant and Respondent)
• Care Standards Tribunal (Appeal against List 99 blacklisting)
• Family Court (Review of computer evidence from previous criminal case)
• Court Martial

Significant cases

Significant cases where Mr Michael J L Turner has given expert evidence in court include:

Comments on Expert Evidence of Michael J L Turner

Experience - Cases

Michael Turner has extensive experience of computer examination and as an expert witness on the reliability of computer data used as evidence in a very wide range of cases including:

Data Examination Experience

Michael Turner has experience of the following Data Examination sources of evidence and evidential artifacts:

Applications Experience

Michael Turner has thirty-five years' experience of software applications in a range of sectors, including:

Services

Professional services include:

• Expert Advice on computer evidence
• E-Discovery - Requests for Disclosure (Discovery) of computer evidence
• Investigation - Forensic Data Examination
• Reinvestigation - Verification of findings of previous computer forensic investigations
• Synchronisation and correlation of activity and event logs
• Construction of event Chronology (Timeline) for alibi testing
• Interpretation and evaluation of computer evidence
• Expert Evidence - report for disclosure

Qualifications

Mr M J L Turner is:

• a Master of Arts (University of Cambridge - Economics)
• a Chartered IT Professional of the British Computer Society (BCS)
• a Chartered Fellow of the British Computer Society
• a Registered Expert Witness of the British Computer Society
• a Practising Expert of The Academy of Experts
• a Fellow of The Expert Witness Institute
• a Registered Forensic Practitioner in the speciality of Computer Examination: Data Examination
• listed as a checked expert witness by The Expert Witness Directory
• listed as an expert witness by UK Register of Expert Witnesses

Computer Forensics Training and Resources

• AccessData: Intermediate Computer Forensics course
• AccessData: Microsoft Windows Forensics course
• AccessData: Internet Forensics course
• ASR Data: Smart - Linux Forensics
• F3 Training days and F3 Annual Conferences
• E-Evidence Electronic Evidence Information Center (Bibliography and Library)
• AccessData forums
• Digital Detective Forensic Forum
• Computer Forensics Tools and Testing group
• Security Focus Forensics mailing list
• SmartForensics forum

Appointments

• Assessor, BCS Expert Witness Register (1996 to 2001)
• Convenor, Computer Evidence task group, BCS Legal Affairs Committee (1998 to 2001)
• Alternate BCS representative on CRFP Digital evidence working group (2003 - 2005)
• Expert Witness Institute representative on CRFP Digital evidence working group (2003 - 2005)
• CRFP Specialty Assessor in the speciality of Computer Examination

Publications

• R v Vatsal Patel - the Computer Misuse Act 1990, s 3(1) (Computers and Law, April 1994)
• Beware: Computer Evidence Quicksand (Computers and Law, February 2001, 36)
• Co-author of the BCS Submission to Lord Justice Auld's Criminal Court Review (March 2000)
• Co-author of the BCS Submission on the CRFP draft proposals on Digital evidence (January 2004)
• Extracts from his Submission to the Metropolitan Police Authority were cited in the MPA's Virdi Inquiry Report
• Registered Forensic Practitioner: A New Breed of Expert (Computers and Law, March 2006)

Current Professional Interests

• Authenticity, Accuracy and Authorship of questioned documents and e-mails
• Forensic procedures for handling, preserving, copying and investigating computer evidence
• Reliability of documents, records, audit trails, logs from computers and networks
• Validity of novel computer forensic techniques and computer forensics State of the Art
• Integrity of database records in Police National Computer (PNC), National DNA Database (NDNAD), DVLA, ANPR

Legal Aid work

Undertakes work funded by Legal Services Commission including Very High Cost (VHC) cases

Pro Bono work

Prepared to advise pro bono where the misuse of computer evidence may have resulted in a miscarriage of justice.

Instructing Solicitors and Organisations

Instructed as an expert witness in some 200 cases including by:

Contact Details

First Names:	Michael John Livingston
Surname:	Turner
Qualifications	MA FBCS CITP MAE FEWI RFP
Address:	Computer Evidence, Dulas Mill, Hereford, HR2 0HL United Kingdom
Phone:	(+44) 01981 241020
Fax:	(+44) 01981 241021
E-mail:	expert@computerevidence.co.uk
Web:	www.computerevidence.co.uk