Thread by @gardencourtlaw

Our major six part event series launches tonight on '#Drill music, gangs and prosecutions – challenging racist stereotypes in the criminal justice system'. Brought to you by the Garden Court Criminal Defence Team and many other leading experts in the area. bit.ly/2QpcvWn

Live now - Part 1 - we bring together a panel to provide expert & grassroots testimony to foster a better understanding of #DrillMusic, its context & origins.

Speakers:

@mrmontgomery_ author of acclaimed Drill documentary, 'Terms & Conditions'

Dr Eithne Quinn (@EMaryQ) defence expert in legal cases where the prosecution seeks to rely on defendants’ music.

Dr Abenaa Owusu-Bempah (@AbenaaOB), expert on the admissibility and use of rap music as evidence in criminal trials.

Chaired by our Alex Taylor-Camara, senior criminal defence barrister, Garden Court Chambers. He has represented many individuals in the music industry securing acquittals in many trials.

.@mrmontgomery_ now speaking about acclaimed documentary on #drillmusic, Terms & Conditions, which explores many of the issues we are discussing this evening. Trailer played to our audience tonight. Watch again here:

Our Alex Taylor-Camara; "Fight goes on to stop music being wrongly used as evidence in prosecution. There are consequences even after a criminal trial. There are also areas of immigration & family proceedings where music is also being used as evidence to discredit individuals."

Now our next speaker Dr @AbenaaOB takes us through her research for @LSELaw examining the key themes from case law. Lyrics and participation in videos was used almost exclusively as evidence against Black people.

.@AbenaaOB "Courts appear to take an uninformed & dismissive attitude towards the prejudicial effect of this evidence, allowing prosecutors to use sterotypical narratives & racist imagery to construct a case theory...

..., & taking rap literally in a way that would be unthinkable with most art forms."

Dr Eithne Quinn (@EMaryQ), Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester: "When prosecutors emphasise rap & lyrics in the court room they are often short on hard evidence and they use this evidence to suggest guilt by association."