The second edition of this widely acclaimed book maintains the authors original objective: to provide a clear and readable account of evidence law, which acknowledges the importance of arguments about facts and principles as well as rules. It is written for those studying for degrees in law or for professional examinations. The author has taken into account the many changes in both statute and case law that have taken place since publication of the first edition. Amongst these, particular attention has been given to the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 and of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999; to judicial interpretations of section 78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and of sections 34 and 35 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; to the novel development of the concept of background evidence; to recent developments in the law concerning the res gestae exception to the hearsay rule; and to judicial elaboration of the law relating to identification procedures.