Advocate Laura Thomson to cross-examine crime writers

 

SCOTLAND'S international crime writing festival, Bloody Scotland, returns to Stirling this weekend, with an inaugural Faculty sub-plot.

For the first time, the Faculty is sponsoring an event during the festival. It will be chaired by Advocate Laura Thomson, who will cross-examine three court lawyers turned crime writers.

During the sell-out event, “Can you handle the truth?”, Ms Thomson, who has both prosecuted and defended serious crime  - including murder, rape and robbery - will introduce the writing of Imran Mahmood, from Liverpool, Steve Cavanagh, from Belfast, and GJ Moffat, from Kilmarnock.

She will explore how works of crime fiction portray court proceedings, as well as other areas such as forensic science and police procedure.

Ms Thomson said: “The Faculty is delighted to be a sponsor of the Bloody Scotland international crime writing festival, and I look forward to the discussion with three successful court lawyers who have also become successful writers of crime fiction.

“I would love to see a relationship develop between all crime writers and lawyers, where authors might see us as a resource they can draw upon as part of their research where their work of fiction includes courtroom scenes.

“I look forward to exploring how the authors ensure they paint courtroom scenes that are legally and procedurally ‘correct’. I will be sure to ask the question: do lawyers turned crime writers get it right? I hope to get a positive verdict.”

More about the festival at https://www.bloodyscotland.com/