Famous crime writers to work out whodunnit

Val McDermid and many other crime writers, including Craig Robertson, are to weigh-up body of evidence as jurors in a Dundee University online project

Between them they have devised countless gruesome killings, keeping readers guessing to the final twist in the tale.

But it will be the turn of top crime writers including Scots novelists Val McDermid and Craig Robertson to work out whodunnit in an online interactive theatre project debuting next week.

The Evidence Chamber has been developed by Dundee University’s Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS) to let members of the public play the role of jurors in a murder trial.

After premiering as a live show at the university’s Festival of the Future event last year, the design studio Fast Familiar has now reimagined it as an interactive courtroom drama and the two crime-writing Scots will be joined by Nigerian-born literary sensation Oyinkan Braithwaite on the first jury panel.

The trial will take place on July 23, a day before members of the public can book a seat in the jury box.

World-leading expertise of the LRCFS team helped the show’s producers to provide insights into how forensic evidence is presented in court and the online version hopes to repeat the success of live performances which have been a huge hit with crime fiction and true crime fans.

Its creators say the move will help further LRCFS research into the use of digital technology in the courtroom.

LRCFS director Professor Niamh Nic Daéid said: “We are delighted that Fast Familiar have repurposed the Evidence Chamber for remote audiences, as discovering innovating new ways of communicating forensic science is vital to our mission to ensure that the evidence is as scientifically robust.”

The Evidence Chamber is also an exploration of how we make decisions, what we find persuasive and how being part of a group can affect our decisions.”

The case revolves around Reeta Banerjee, a celebrated human rights activist found dead at her home.

Electrical goods are missing from her office and the suspect, Andrew Davidson, swears he wasn’t there.

McDermid, an honorary graduate of the university, said: “For me, having the inside track on weighing the evidence will be a real treat.”

The Evidence Chamber takes place at various times from July 24 to August 8, with tickets available via Eventbrite.

Picture: Shutterstock. Val McDermid will be part of a jury in performance trial.