Criminal defence case study - indecent images - computer

The following is an anonymised case study based on a real assignment conducted by CCL-Forensics for a criminal defence solicitor

A London-based firm of solicitors contacted CCL-Forensics regarding their client who was accused of downloading and possessing indecent images on their PC. The prosecution had conducted a forensic analysis on the PC.

Working from the imaged copy of the exhibit, CCL-Forensics’ analyst established that there were no "live" images of this nature on the PC. However, after further investigation some images were found on the PC that had been deleted.

This meant that the client could not be charged with possession.

Following more in-depth analysis of search terms that the accused had entered into the web browser on the PC, it was established that they had been looking for images of a homosexual nature as opposed to an illegal nature, verifying the absence of intent.