Highly experienced forensic pathologists may give opinions about expected injuries from falls based on their extensive professional experience of conducting autopsies, without needing to refer to datasets, literature reviews, or formal reasoning demonstrating the connection between their expertise and their opinions. Where no objection is taken at trial to evidence or directions, an appellant must demonstrate not only error but that the error might have affected the verdict, having regard to the strength of the Crown case as a whole. Deliberate forensic choices at trial have consequences on appeal — an appellate court will be reluctant to intervene when asked to act upon a different basis from that adopted at trial.
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