Evidence Flashcards
How trials were conducted prior to riles of evidence
Trial by ordeal, by fire and trial by combat
Purpose of the rules in 102
- Secure fairness in administration
- Eliminate unjustifiable expense and delay
- Promote growth and development of the law of evidence
Evidence
Any specific proof legally presented at a trial
Proof
The effect of evidence; the establishment of a fact by evidence
Burden of proof
In law of evidence, the necessity or duty of affirmatively proving a fact or facts in dispute
Presumption
A conclusion derived from a particular set of facts based on law
Inference
An act of reasoning from factual knowledge or evidence
Direct evidence
Refers to evidence that directly proves a fact without resorting to inferences or presumptions
Circumstantial evidence
Evidence that is bearing on various circumstances from with the judge or jury an infer the occurrence of a fact in dispute
Judicial notice
Certain facts or laws that are not subject to reasonable dispute
Three basic rules of competency for a witness
- First hand knowledge
- Ability to recall and recount
- Understand the significance of the oath
Relevant evidence
For evidence to be admissible in court it must be relevant
- Material
- have probative value
Reasons relevant evidence my be excluded
- Probative value substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice
- Confusion of the issue
- Misleading the jury
- Undue delay, waste of time of needless presentation of evidence
Admissibility and weight
Weight of evidence is the value the jury assigns to particular pieces of evidence in reaching a verdict
Character conduct and bias
-The credibility of the witness may be attacked or supported by evidence in the form of opinion
Impeachment by evidence of conviction of crime
Evidence that a witness other than an accused has been convicted of a crime shall be admitted if the crime was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year under the law
Direct examination
The usual method of examining witnesses is by oral questioning in open court by
- Question and answer
- Narrative form
Cross examination
- The principal means by which belivability of a witness and the truth of his testimony are tested
- Its purpose is to probe the witness;s first hand knowledge
Expert witness
- A witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education may testify in the form of an opinion
- Used to assist the trier of fact in understanding the evidence
Hearsay
- A statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at a trial or hearing
- A good method to determine hearsay involves questioning whether the witness is trying to prove the statement he/she is making
When hearsay fails
- There is no oath
- There is no opportunity for the other party to cross examine the declarant
- There is no opportunity to observe or to probe his ability to recall and recount
Exceptions to hearsay rule
If the circumstances surrounding the making of the statement give rise to the belief that it is true, theirs a strong likelihood it will hold up in court
Present sense impression
A statement describing or explaining an event or condition made while the declarant was perceived
Excited utterance
A statement relating to a startling event or condition made while the declarant was under the stress of excitement