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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Bogus forensic expert faces jail | Bogus forensic expert faces jail |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A bogus forensic psychologist who supplied evidence in hundreds of court cases over almost 30 years has been convicted on 20 charges. | A bogus forensic psychologist who supplied evidence in hundreds of court cases over almost 30 years has been convicted on 20 charges. |
| Gene Morrison, 48, who left school with no qualifications, was described in court as a charlatan who had tricked judges, lawyers and police. | Gene Morrison, 48, who left school with no qualifications, was described in court as a charlatan who had tricked judges, lawyers and police. |
| About 700 cases he worked on will now have to be re-assessed, Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court was told. | About 700 cases he worked on will now have to be re-assessed, Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court was told. |
| Morrison, of Martin Street, Hyde, was told a jail sentence was inevitable. | Morrison, of Martin Street, Hyde, was told a jail sentence was inevitable. |
| The court heard he was paid at least £250,000 in taxpayers' money for giving apparently expert advice. | The court heard he was paid at least £250,000 in taxpayers' money for giving apparently expert advice. |
| Morrison's firm, Criminal and Forensic Investigations Bureau (CFIB), was hired to give evidence in court. | Morrison's firm, Criminal and Forensic Investigations Bureau (CFIB), was hired to give evidence in court. |
| I think he's a delusional character - the depths to which he sunk are unbelievable Det Supt Martin Bottomley | I think he's a delusional character - the depths to which he sunk are unbelievable Det Supt Martin Bottomley |
| His firm's website - bearing the motto Exposing unrighteousness for the sake of righteousness - claimed he had more than 20 years experience. | His firm's website - bearing the motto Exposing unrighteousness for the sake of righteousness - claimed he had more than 20 years experience. |
| Morrison admitted to police he began working as a forensic investigator in 1977 after buying certificates by post for a BSc in Forensic Science, a Masters with excellence in Forensic Investigation and a Doctorate in Criminology. | Morrison admitted to police he began working as a forensic investigator in 1977 after buying certificates by post for a BSc in Forensic Science, a Masters with excellence in Forensic Investigation and a Doctorate in Criminology. |
| Despite this, during his trial he insisted on being called Dr Morrison. | Despite this, during his trial he insisted on being called Dr Morrison. |
| He also told police he learned his skills from a retired West Yorkshire detective and a mysterious Mr X, a member of the Czech Republic's defence ministry. | He also told police he learned his skills from a retired West Yorkshire detective and a mysterious Mr X, a member of the Czech Republic's defence ministry. |
| Morrison worked out of an office in Hyde | Morrison worked out of an office in Hyde |
| Morrison told police he started an Open University (OU) degree, but in court revealed he only actually phoned for a brochure and recorded OU programmes from BBC2 in the 1970s. | Morrison told police he started an Open University (OU) degree, but in court revealed he only actually phoned for a brochure and recorded OU programmes from BBC2 in the 1970s. |
| In the beginning, Morrison hired real forensic scientists to carry out handwriting and fingerprint analysis which he would pass off as his own and charge clients double. | |
| But later he simply cut and pasted old reports together and changed details, the court heard. | But later he simply cut and pasted old reports together and changed details, the court heard. |
| Morrison's clients included legal firms, insurance companies, private businesses and individuals. | Morrison's clients included legal firms, insurance companies, private businesses and individuals. |
| He gave evidence in cases involving armed robbery, rape, death by dangerous driving, unexplained death and drugs offences. | He gave evidence in cases involving armed robbery, rape, death by dangerous driving, unexplained death and drugs offences. |
| 'Walter Mitty' | 'Walter Mitty' |
| Greater Manchester Police is sending a report to the attorney general on Morrison's work to examine any possible miscarriages of justice. | Greater Manchester Police is sending a report to the attorney general on Morrison's work to examine any possible miscarriages of justice. |
| The force is also investigating hundreds of cases. | The force is also investigating hundreds of cases. |
| Det Supt Martin Bottomley, speaking outside court, described Morrison as a Walter Mitty-type character. | Det Supt Martin Bottomley, speaking outside court, described Morrison as a Walter Mitty-type character. |
| "His professional life has been based on a web of deceit and lies and he's fleeced many victims out of hundreds of thousands of pounds," said the detective. | "His professional life has been based on a web of deceit and lies and he's fleeced many victims out of hundreds of thousands of pounds," said the detective. |
| "I think he's a delusional character. The depths to which he sunk are unbelievable, really." | "I think he's a delusional character. The depths to which he sunk are unbelievable, really." |
| Morrison was found guilty of 20 offences including obtaining a money transfer by deception, obtaining property by deception, perverting the course of justice and perjury. | Morrison was found guilty of 20 offences including obtaining a money transfer by deception, obtaining property by deception, perverting the course of justice and perjury. |
| He admitted a further two charges. | He admitted a further two charges. |
| He was cleared of one count of obtaining a money transfer by deception. | He was cleared of one count of obtaining a money transfer by deception. |
| The guilty verdicts followed two days of deliberation by the jury. | The guilty verdicts followed two days of deliberation by the jury. |
| Judge Jeffrey Lewis remanded Morrison in custody and told him a custodial sentence was inevitable. | Judge Jeffrey Lewis remanded Morrison in custody and told him a custodial sentence was inevitable. |
| Morrison will be sentenced on Thursday. | Morrison will be sentenced on Thursday. |