| The whole question as to whether criminal trials | | | | But how can a jury of normal human beings decide |
| should be decided upon via a layman jury has come | | | | on a case which is filled with such complexity and |
| to the fore once again. A case in the U.K. where a | | | | which, in addition, could only be descriptively analyzed |
| young boy died with five times the normal levels of | | | | and contested by advanced medical brains? This begs |
| salt in his blood has highlighted a difficult problem. | | | | the question as to whether juries should be made up |
| The two adults who were attempting to adopt him | | | | of expert observers but less, in turn, will it raise the |
| were accused of manslaughter and, basically, of force | | | | difficulty in actually getting experts on a regular |
| feeding him salt. They won an appeal in the British | | | | enough basis to sit through lengthy complex trials. |
| courts which was presided over by a judge and a | | | | The other alternative is to have juries sitting and |
| jury. | | | | deciding on the outcome of a case but with access |
| However, the case revolved around the possibility | | | | to a "friend" in the guise of an expert witness chosen |
| that this young boy who died suffered from a rare | | | | or agreed by both prosecution and defense. Whilst |
| and complex medical condition and the case was | | | | this might be useful and advisory in complex cases, |
| argued for and against via the use of expert medical | | | | for instance complex fraud cases, it is far from ideal |
| witnesses who attempted to provide an up-to-date | | | | and brings its own difficulties and assumptions. |
| record of current evidence, research, and knowledge. | | | | |