17. Kevin's Trial part 1

About this episode

This episode discusses a male rape trial in England & Wales that challenges societal perceptions of such cases.

Rape on Trial is a fly-on-wall documentary-style podcast for listeners interested in the real-life workings of the criminal process, criminal law and proceedings. Through a series of in-depth case-studies drawing on case files and trial proceedings, we can see for ourselves how the criminal justice system works in rape and serious sex offence cases, and how it doesn't. Another Crown Court somewhere in England & Wales. Another rape trial. But one that isn't, technically, a rape trial. And one that the mainstream research tends to avoid on the basis that cases like this are "different". Why? Because this is a male rape case: male defendant; male complainant, and, moreover, a male complainant who, while an adult when the case is reported, investigated, and tried, was a child at the material time. A case of one person's word against another's then, but one of 'he said, he said' rather than 'he said, she said'. And a case where consent and gendered rape myths and stereotypes won't/can't muddy the waters for the jury. All the more reason to watch, then, surely? Key topics and procedural elements covered: agreed admission of evidence of defendant's bad character; opening directions…

People in this episode

Host: Dr Candida Saunders

Topics covered

• male rape
• legal system
• cross-examination
• vulnerability
• documentary
• true crime

Keywords

• male rape
• Crown Court
• legal issues
• cross-examination
• vulnerability
• documentary
• true crime

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Women Podcasters Award, Amazon, Acast

Books & works: Doak et al, Cross-examination on Trial: Advocacy and Vulnerability in Criminal Trials

Places: England & Wales

More episodes of Rape on Trial

• 19. Kevin's Trial part 3 · May 20, 2026 · 1h 36m
• 18. Kevin's Trial part 2 · May 5, 2026 · 1h 3m
• 15. Omar's Trial · February 9, 2026 · 45 min
• 14. Patrick's Trial part 3 · January 24, 2026 · 1h 28m
• 13. Patrick's Trial part 2 · January 3, 2026 · 1h 13m
• 12. Patrick's Trial part 1 · December 20, 2025 · 54 min