Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, Canada.
Media Studies, School of Arts, Kent University, Canterbury, UK.
Int J Law Psychiatry. 2022 Mar-Apr;81:101778. doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2022.101778. Epub 2022 Feb 3.
This qualitative case study examines the impact of video evidence of violent crime in the tragic Canadian case of serial killers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka. Through in-depth interviews with those centrally involved in the case, interviews with criminal justice professionals currently working with video evidence of violent crime, and review of official documents and media reports, we explore the complex role video evidence played in this case and the legacy it continues to have in society, the justice system, and in the individual lives of those involved twenty-five years later. Two primary sources of harm arose in our analysis: critogenic harm related to the use of video evidence in the justice process; and harm arising from the media publicity surrounding the video evidence. Both of these sources of harm intensified the trauma for victims and their families, and contributed to distress and trauma reactions of criminal justice professionals and members of the jury. Given the global increase in the use of video-evidence in criminal justice processes, it is imperative that continuing harms to those involved in the process are considered and mitigated.
本定性案例研究考察了暴力犯罪视频证据在加拿大连环杀手保罗·伯纳多和卡拉·霍莫尔卡悲剧案件中的影响。通过对案件核心人员的深入访谈、对目前从事暴力犯罪视频证据工作的刑事司法专业人员的访谈，以及对官方文件和媒体报道的审查，我们探讨了视频证据在该案中所扮演的复杂角色以及它在 25 年后对社会、司法系统和涉案人员个人生活产生的持久影响。在我们的分析中出现了两个主要的伤害来源：与司法程序中使用视频证据相关的 Critogenic 伤害；以及与视频证据相关的媒体宣传所产生的伤害。这两个伤害来源都加剧了受害者及其家人的创伤，导致刑事司法专业人员和陪审团成员出现困扰和创伤反应。鉴于全球范围内在刑事司法程序中越来越多地使用视频证据，必须考虑并减轻对参与该过程的人的持续伤害。
