hearsay evidence
Someone else's words
Hearsay evidence is testimony about what someone else said, offered to prove the truth of what was said.
In court, a witness saying She told me he threatened her is hearsay if used to prove the threat occurred.
Hearsay is generally inadmissible because the original speaker isn't present for cross-examination, though numerous exceptions exist in legal practice.
- ancient documentVery old written record
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- corroborationEvidence confirming another account
- secondhandHaving had prior ownership
exclusionary rule · business records · law · rumor · word of mouth · admissibility · declarant · unverified · cross-examination · anecdote · unreliable narrator · prima facie · allegation · standard of proof · speculation · courtroom procedure · report · deposition
hearsay evidencedirect evidence
Proof requiring no inference
eyewitness testimony · firsthand account · eyewitness account · direct observation · witness statement
hearsay evidenceadmissible evidence
Proof meeting legal standards
physical evidence · documentary evidence · forensic evidence · real evidence · material evidence
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