I came away buzzing and reassured that we still have in this century a wide ranging community fascinated not just by famous authors (I’ve rarely seen so many concentrated in one place) but by challenging ideas and questions.

Murder at the Old Bailey - JBW Murder at the Old Bailey - JBW

I loved the whole atmosphere of the Oxford Literary Festival. From breakfast, alongside some of the attendees, who were talking books with each other a mile a minute, to the public event at The Sheldonian where everyone was lively and engaged – I felt I had arrived in a kind of literary heaven.

I had no idea that a ‘perverse verdict’ was even a thing, and I feel enlightened, reassured and even a little bit empowered to discover it exists, and the contexts - historical as explained and current as in one of the chapters - in which it has been used made me smile and sigh with relief. Sometimes the law is indeed an ass, and yet the power remains with us: Twelve people of this country, randomly drawn from its ranks, to return a verdict which they believe to be right. Until her March retirement Her Honour Wendy Joseph was one of the just 16 judges licensed to try murder cases at the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales – better known as the Old Bailey – and the only woman. In Unlawful Killings: Life, Love & Murder she shares her rare insight from 15 years of presiding over numerous high-profile cases, having previously served as a criminal barrister for more than three decades. Every unlawful death tells a story. Every trial involves characters to be understood, motives to be unravelled, plans and methodology to be exposed.” So writes Her Honour Wendy Joseph QC at the beginning of her riveting and revelatory début, Unlawful Killings: Life, Love and Murder: Trials at the Old Bailey (Doubleday) .

Unlawful Killings by Wendy Joseph - Penguin Books Australia Unlawful Killings by Wendy Joseph - Penguin Books Australia

Wendy Joseph's career as a leading criminal barrister and High Court judge at The Old Bailey has given her unparalleled insight and understanding of crime and the working of the criminal mind. In this remarkable book she sets out in clear, dispassionate and forensic detail the twists and turns of six very different trials, not only revealing the intense human tragedy behind these stories but also the lives of the people who are integral to the court process, be it QC, barrister, clerk, witness or jury. A stunning book, beautifully written with practical no-mess information regarding the complexities of both the law and its application, and the formalities of court, as well as a insightful and honest opinion of the nature of criminology and society that brings people to the court in the first place. I could have read this ten times over and still found it fascinating and so intuitive. I wish more people would read this to understand the nature of how the CPS, court, juries and sentencing do, and must, function to provide as fair and just society as is possible in an equal manner, not just run on what Facebook opinions say on cases. I really enjoyed this book. If ever I was on trial I would want my judge to be this one. She is compassionate, in control and understands the reality that exists outside the courtroom. Anyone who has worked in the Crown Court would recognise how true to life the court room scenes are. The fictional crime scenarios make compelling stories. What is unique is that they are placed in a wider context which challenges the assumptions that lie behind our criminal justice policy. A great read for those who want to understand how the system works now and why it is going wrong. Cherie Blair CBE QCRoger Highfield and Peter Coveney Chaired by Irene Tracey Vice-chancellor’s Interview. Virtual You: How Building Your Digital Twin Will Revolutionise Medicine Sheldonian Theatre 12:00pm Fri 31 Friday, 31 March 2023 See this event I found this to be an informative read and highly interesting. The author gives us real insight into her role as a judge and takes the time to discuss aspects of the law that readers are unlikely to be familiar with.