Featured Post from Aston University

New true crime podcast Writing Wrongs launches with a chilling case of miscarriage of justice

The podcast provides a deep dive into how forensic language analysis plays a crucial role in solving crimes and improving the delivery of justice

Mar 26, 2025

3 min

Professor Tim Grant


CaptionResizeWrap TextRemove


True crime enthusiasts and forensic linguistics fans have a gripping new podcast to add to their playlists. Writing Wrongs, an original podcast from the Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics (AIFL) at Aston University, provides a deep dive into how forensic language analysis plays a crucial role in solving crimes and improving the delivery of justice.


Hosts Professor Tim Grant and Dr Nicci MacLeod, leading experts in forensic linguistics, explore how police interviews and linguistic evidence played a key role in one of Britain’s most infamous miscarriages of justice. Throughout the series, they’ll explore real-life cases where forensic linguistics has played a pivotal role in solving crimes, joined by expert guests who reveal the fascinating - and sometimes chilling - ways language can expose the truth.


The first episode, Timothy Evans: A Case for Forensic Linguistics, launched on 7 March 2025, 75 years after Timothy Evans’ wrongful conviction and subsequent execution (9 March 1950). The Timothy Evans case was instrumental in the UK’s decision to abolish the death penalty, raising critical questions about police interviewing techniques, false confessions and linguistic analysis in legal proceedings.


In 1950, Evans was convicted and later hanged for the murder of his baby daughter, Geraldine, while his wife, Beryl Evans, was also presumed to be his victim. However, three years later, his neighbour at 10 Rillington Place, London, John ‘Reg’ Christie, a former police officer, was exposed as a serial killer, responsible for at least eight murders – and almost certainly including Geraldine and Beryl Evans. Despite evidence casting doubt on Evans’ guilt, he was executed before Christie’s crimes came to light. This case was instrumental in the early development of forensic linguistics, as experts later analysed Evans’ police confessions to expose inconsistencies.


Listen here


Tim Grant, professor of forensic linguistics at Aston University, said:


“We are delighted to launch Writing Wrongs with this episode focussing on the wrongful conviction and execution of Timothy Evans. This episode clearly shows how language analysis can provide evidence to help resolve one of the most controversial cases in British legal history.
“In other episodes we show how contemporary forensic linguists are making contributions to the delivery of justice in cases of murder, rape and terrorism. In each case we discuss with a linguist how they assisted, and demonstrate how providing linguistic evidence to the courts can exonerate or incriminate and change the outcome of cases.”


Dr Nicci MacLeod, deputy director of the Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics, said:


“This is the origin story for forensic linguistics, a phrase first coined by Jan Svartvik in his 1968 publication analysing the Evans statements.
“Svartvik was able to show that there were clear differences in the language style of the incriminating sections of Evans’ ‘confession’, and other parts of the statements he gave to police.
“One feature Svartvik focused on was the use of the word ‘then’ positioned after the subject of a clause, as in “I then came upstairs”, as opposed to what we might consider the more usual ordering of “then I came upstairs”. This is a feature of ‘policespeak’, and was also identified in the infamous Derek Bentley confession by Malcolm Coulthard some years later.”


The first three episodes of the eight-part series of Writing Wrongs are available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms. They include a bonus episode with the author, Kate Summerscale ('The Suspicions of Mr Whicher' and 'The Queen of Whale Cay'), about her latest book ‘The Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington Place’ and an episode featuring Dr Isobelle Clarke, which shows how a series of forensic authorship analyses assisted in the investigation and conviction of a terrorist who planted a pipe bomb in Edinburgh in 2018.


Listeners are encouraged to follow, share and engage with the hosts by submitting their forensic linguistics questions. Whether it’s about the cases covered or broader issues in forensic linguistics, Professor Grant and Dr MacLeod welcome enquiries from listeners.


Future episodes will be released on the first Friday of the month with episode four, Foreygensic Lingeyguistics: Cracking the Killer’s Code, dropping on 4 April 2025.

Connect with:
Professor Tim Grant

Professor Tim Grant

Professor of forensic linguistics

Professor Grant's main research interests are within the area of forensic linguistics.

Forensic LinguisticsForensic Authorship AnalysisOnline Sexual Abuse ConversationsTwitterSMS
Powered by

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Aston University

Why disaster recovery in the Himalayas needs a rethink featured image

3 min

Why disaster recovery in the Himalayas needs a rethink

After five weeks of fieldwork across Nepal, Bhutan and Northwest India, Aston University researcher Dr Komal Raj Aryal is calling for a more locally grounded approach to resilience and post-disaster recovery in one of the world’s most hazard-prone regions. What happens after the headlines fade from a disaster? That question sits at the heart of new field research led by Dr Komal Raj Aryal, Lecturer in Crisis and Disaster Management at Aston Business School. After returning from a five-week research visit across Nepal, Bhutan and Northwest India, Dr Aryal says the evidence points to a troubling reality: many communities remain highly vulnerable long after major recovery programmes are supposed to have helped them rebuild. The trip brought together field visits, stakeholder consultations and community observations linked to ongoing UKRI, NERC and ISPF-supported research on earthquake risk, disaster governance, resilience and post-disaster recovery in the Himalayan region. The aim was not only to understand current conditions, but to ask why repeated losses continue despite years of international development assistance, scientific research and investment. Across the region, the research found that resilience is being undermined by a combination of persistent governance challenges, fragmented institutions, weak local preparedness systems, livelihood insecurity and mounting environmental pressures. In other words, recovery is not simply about rebuilding infrastructure; it is about whether communities are genuinely better equipped to cope with the next shock. This challenge is especially striking in places still living with the legacy of the 2015 Nepal earthquakes, where long-term vulnerabilities remain visible despite the scale of international support directed towards recovery and reconstruction. Reflecting on his findings, Dr Aryal said: “One of the most striking observations from the field is that many communities affected by the 2015 Nepal Earthquakes continue to face similar vulnerabilities today, despite significant international support allocated for recovery and reconstruction. This raises important questions about how disaster recovery is planned, implemented, and sustained over time.” The fieldwork also highlighted the growing complexity of future disaster risks in the Himalayas. Large-scale earthquakes do not exist in isolation; they interact with environmental degradation, cascading hazards, climate-related stresses and rapid urbanisation in fragile mountain settings. He added: “The Himalayan region is entering a period of growing uncertainty where environmental change, socio-economic inequality, weak governance systems, and seismic risks are becoming increasingly interconnected. There is an urgent need to rethink conventional development approaches and invest more seriously in locally grounded, community-centred resilience strategies.” For Aston University, this work reflects a broader commitment to international research on disaster risk reduction, resilience governance and humanitarian response across South Asia. Aston researchers are working with government agencies, local authorities, universities, emergency responders and humanitarian organisations to strengthen evidence-based approaches to preparedness and recovery. The findings feed into wider international debates about sustainable development, climate resilience, risk communication and the future of disaster governance in vulnerable mountain regions. They also underline the importance of moving beyond short-term recovery models towards approaches that are participatory, practical and rooted in local knowledge. Dr Aryal’s research emphasises the value of integrating community knowledge, participatory governance, youth engagement and long-term livelihood security into resilience planning. As future collaborations and policy discussions develop, these themes are likely to be central to how the region prepares for the risks ahead. The recent fieldwork is expected to inform future international research partnerships, policy dialogue and resilience-focused initiatives between the UK and South Asian partners.

Aston University economists say Prime Minister can reduce UK trade vulnerability with China visit featured image

2 min

Aston University economists say Prime Minister can reduce UK trade vulnerability with China visit

Greenland episode exposed UK’s lack of effective response to economic coercion from allies Research shows tariff retaliation would have cost the average UK household up to £324 per year Economists say China visit is “portfolio risk management” – diversification reduces vulnerability. The Prime Minister’s visit to China – the first by a British PM since 2018 – is an opportunity to reduce the UK’s vulnerability to economic coercion, according to new research from Aston University. A policy paper from Aston Business School’s Centre for Business Prosperity analyses the January 2026 Greenland tariff episode, when President Trump threatened and then withdrew tariffs on eight European countries. The researchers found that the UK had no good options: retaliation would have made Britain worse off, while absorbing the tariffs left Europe without credible deterrence. Director of the centre for business prosperity, Professor Jun Du, said: “The Greenland episode was a wake-up call. When your principal security ally threatens economic coercion, the old assumptions about who is safe and who is dangerous no longer hold. “The PM’s China visit should be framed as portfolio risk management – building diversified trading relationships that reduce the UK’s exposure to any single partner. Just as investors don’t put all their money in one stock, countries shouldn’t put all their trade into one basket. A UK with multiple strong partnerships is harder to pressure, whether the pressure comes from Washington or Beijing.” The research found that coordinated UK–EU tariff retaliation would have cost British households up to £324 per year – the worst outcome modelled. But the authors argue that Europe has untapped leverage elsewhere: the US runs a €148 billion annual services surplus with the EU, and mutual investment exceeds €5.3 trillion. Associate professor of economics and co-author, Dr Oleksandr Shepotylo, said: “Tariff retaliation fails because it hurts consumers and distorts the economy – the retaliator suffers similarly to the target. But Europe has cards it isn’t playing. Services, investment screening, and regulatory access are pressure points where Europe can respond effectively.” UK exports to China fell by 10.4% in the year to Q2 2025, with goods exports down 23.1% – the sharpest decline among major trading partners. The researchers argue that this closes off the UK’s largest alternative market at precisely the moment US reliability is in question. The paper identifies three priorities for UK policy: Recognise the permanent incentives behind US tariffs. US tariff revenue hit $264 billion in 2025. Trade negotiations alone cannot resolve revenue-driven policy. Build UK–EU coordination on non-tariff instruments. Services, investment, procurement, and regulation offer leverage that tariffs do not. Treat China engagement as portfolio risk management. Concentration in any single market creates vulnerability. Diversification is not about picking sides – it’s about resilience. Professor Du added: “The question for the Prime Minister is whether to use this breathing space to build resilience – or wait for the next Greenland.” To read the policy paper in full, click on this link:

Medication adherence: Why it matters and how we can improve it – public lecture by Professor Ian Maidment featured image

2 min

Medication adherence: Why it matters and how we can improve it – public lecture by Professor Ian Maidment

Professor Ian Maidment is a professor in clinical pharmacy at Aston Pharmacy School His inaugural lecture will explain why patients struggle with taking medication and present possible solutions to the problem Professor Maidment is a former practising pharmacist and an expert in medication optimisation and management in mental health and dementia. Professor Ian Maidment, professor in clinical pharmacy at Aston Pharmacy School, will give a public lecture about his life’s work on 5 February 2025. In his inaugural lecture, Professor Maidment will reflect on his journey from a childhood in Kent to becoming a leading researcher in clinical pharmacy. After more than two decades working in the NHS, in community pharmacy, mental health, dementia care, and leadership roles, he joined Aston University in 2012. His research focuses on the real-world challenges of medication optimisation for patients, carers, and healthcare professionals. The title of Professor Maidment’s lecture is ‘Medication adherence: Why it matters and how we can improve it’. Every year, the UK spends nearly £21 billion on medicines. Yet up to half of people with long-term conditions do not take their medication as prescribed—a problem known as non-adherence. This has profound clinical consequences and significant financial implications for the NHS. Professor Maidment will draw on his experience to explore how factors such as medication burden and side-effects influence adherence, the challenges posed by conditions such as dementia and severe mental illness, the role of pharmacy in supporting adherence and why tackling non-adherence requires a system-wide approach. He will also offer practical solutions to one of healthcare’s most persistent problems. Professor Maidment said: “We need to understand why patients struggle to take their medication and then develop and test solutions that work well.” The lecture on Thursday 5 February 2026 will take place at Aston Business School. In-person tickets are available from Eventbrite. The public lecture will begin at 18:00 GMT with refreshments served from 17:30 GMT. It is free of charge and will be followed by a drinks reception. The lecture will also be streamed online.

View all posts
Powered by