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Witnesses
A witness is a person who has relevant information about an event, often a crime, and can provide testimony about what they saw, heard, or know. Witnesses play a crucial role in legal proceedings by helping judges or juries understand the facts of a case through their accounts.
There are two main types of witnesses:
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Ordinary (or lay) witnesses: These individuals personally saw or heard something related to the case. For example, an eyewitness to a crime or a police officer who made an arrest. They provide factual information but do not give opinions.
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Expert witnesses: These are people with specialized knowledge or expertise (such as doctors, psychologists, or accountants) who interpret facts and offer professional opinions relevant to the case.
Witnesses must usually take an oath or solemnly promise to tell the truth in court. Their testimony becomes part of the evidence used to determine guilt or innocence. Witnesses can be called by either the prosecution or defense, and their credibility may be assessed based on factors like bias or reliability.
In summary, a witness is anyone who can provide firsthand or expert information about an incident or crime to assist the court in understanding what happened.