Issue 92  1st June 2019

The discrediting of an unqualified "expert" - found to have cut-and-pasted the same evidence for several different cases - has led to the collapse of a multi-million pound fraud trial.

In closing the case, the judge said: "Andrew Ager is not an expert of suitable calibre. He had little or no understanding of the duties of an expert. He had received no training and attended no courses. He has no academic qualifications. His work has never been peer-reviewed."

There are significant implications as Mr Ager has appeared for the prosecution in at least 20 other cases - and the Metropolitan Police is now referring the matter to the National Crime Agency.

A certification scheme for expert witnesses will start this summer, in the midst of a growing public row about the collapse of a fraud trial after an 'expert' was found to be unqualified.

The scheme, run by the Expert Witness Institute (EWI) in conjunction with the Judicial Institute at University College London, aims to create a ‘gold-standard’ register of experts. It will consist of ‘an intensive assessment process to assess experts’ competency as witnesses,’ the EWI states.

Boris Johnson has been summoned to court to face accusations of misconduct in public office over claims that he lied by saying Britain gave £350m a week to the European Union.

The next hearing at Westminster magistrates court is expected to take place in three or four weeks and will be purely administrative, but Johnson will have to attend. He and his legal team will be asked if he intends to contest the case.