Judicial Drawing as Testimony: Visual analysis of the Alcàsser Crime through the Facial Action Coding System (FACS)

Abstract

This article examines the role of drawing in judicial proceedings through the case of the Alcàsser crime (1997), in which the ban on courtroom cameras turned illustration into the primary visual medium of the trial. These drawings provided the public with a graphic narrative of the process and became documents of informational and testimonial value. Positioned at the intersection of art, criminology, and communication, the study evaluates the potential of courtroom sketching to enhance institutional transparency, humanize trial participants, and influence public perceptions of justice. Using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) developed by Ekman and Friesen, the research analyzes illustrations depicting emotions such as tension, self-control, and anxiety, thereby enriching visual representation in comparison to other media. The results demonstrate that courtroom drawing, when supported by empirical tools like FACS, can rigorously encode procedural emotions, expanding its function beyond documentation. The study proposes integrating FACS into the training of courtroom sketch artists and reflects on the illustrator’s subjectivity as a factor capable of shaping media narratives. The research focuses on analyzing how courtroom drawings, through FACS-based analysis, communicate emotional dynamics during trials and contribute to shaping public perception of the legal system.