Evidence and Negligence: Criminal Law History Made in 20th Century Deptford

Deptford has made criminal law history more than once. This talk will explore two cases from the early 20th century. In 1905, a bloody thumbprint was left at a High Street murder scene. It matched a suspect, but fingerprint evidence had never been used in a murder trial – until then. Twenty years later, a tragic death in childbirth saw a local doctor in the dock. His trial and appeal involved the legal celebrities of the day. They also raised a vital question: when does negligence become criminal? The answer still affects the criminal law today – and the case itself reveals a lot about life in 1920s Deptford. Our speaker Caroline Derry is Professor of Feminism, Law and History at the Open University, where her research brings together legal and social history and tells the human stories behind the criminal law. She teaches criminal law and is the co-author of the Complete Criminal Law textbook. Refreshments will be provided.