Hearsay Evidence

June 5, 2008
Intellectual Property News and Interesting Facts

Generally speaking, hearsay evidence is evidence of something that a witness has not personally observed.

If a witness testifies about something that he has heard from others who are not present as witnesses in Court.

For example, if witness A testifies that B told him that she had seen how the accused had had a gun in his hand. Because B is not a witness herself and therefore cannot be cross-examined as to her credibility.

A’s evidence about what B said is therefore hearsay. In principle hearsay evidence is not admissible.