 This is partly because of negative pre-trial publicity which remains in the public record, partly because of the several dramatic incidents in the trial and partly as Adams declined to give evidence in his own defence.The trial featured in headlines around the world and was described at the time as "one of the greatest murder trials of all time" and "murder trial of the century".It was also described by the trial judge as unique because "the act of murder" had "to be proved by expert evidence."