DEFENSE WITNESS Meaning and
Definition
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A defense witness refers to an individual who is called upon by the defense counsel in a legal proceeding to testify under oath in support of the defendant's case. Typically, in criminal trials, the prosecution bears the burden of proving the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In such instances, the defense counsel may present defense witnesses to provide evidence, testimony, or expert opinions that challenge the prosecution's claims or create doubt in the minds of the jury.
Defense witnesses can include various individuals, such as eyewitnesses, character witnesses, forensic experts, or professionals from relevant fields who possess specialized knowledge essential to the case. The primary objective of defense witnesses is to assist in creating a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors regarding the defendant's guilt. Through their testimony, they aim to present an alternative narrative or interpretation of the evidence, which may be used to refute or weaken the prosecution's case.
Defense witnesses are chosen and prepared by the defense counsel, who carefully assesses the strength of their testimony and their ability to support the defendant's cause. It is important to note that defense witnesses are not in any way obligated to provide false testimony or present inaccurate information. Their role is to present truthful accounts or expert opinions that contribute to the defense's overall strategy.
Ultimately, defense witnesses play a critical role in the adversarial nature of legal proceedings, aiming to provide a counterbalance to the prosecution's evidence and present a comprehensive representation of the facts that may favor the defense's position.
Common Misspellings for DEFENSE WITNESS
- sefense witness
- xefense witness
- cefense witness
- fefense witness
- refense witness
- eefense witness
- dwfense witness
- dsfense witness
- ddfense witness
- drfense witness
- d4fense witness
- d3fense witness
- dedense witness
- decense witness
- devense witness
- degense witness
- detense witness
- derense witness
- defwnse witness
- defsnse witness
Etymology of DEFENSE WITNESS
The etymology of the phrase "defense witness" comes from the combination of two words: "defense" and "witness".
1. Defense: "defense" originated from Old French "defens" and Latin "defensa" meaning "protection" or "shield". It is derived from the Latin verb "defendere", which combines "de" (indicating "from" or "away") and "fendere" (meaning "to strike" or "ward off"). The Middle English term "defence" emerged around the 14th century.
2. Witness: The term "witness" comes from Old English "witnes" or "witness" derived from the verb "witan" meaning "to know" or "to observe". It is connected to the Proto-Germanic word "witanan" and the Old Norse word "vitni", both having similar meanings.
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