key witness
Crucial trial observer
A key witness is a witness whose testimony is central to a legal case—someone who saw crucial events, possesses critical information, or can establish essential facts.
The term implies this person's account may determine the outcome: The prosecution's key witness placed the defendant at the scene.
Key witnesses often receive protection when their testimony threatens powerful interests.
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
- sworn testimonyOath-bound legal statement
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
- take the standGive sworn court testimony
- standUpright support structure
sworn · under oath · evidence · eyewitness · police lineup · deposition · on the record · prosecutor · trial · court appearance · alibi · cross-examination · oath · subpoena · protection · statement · corroborate · crucial
- crime investigationdetective, whodunit, investigation, detectives, investigator
- witnesseseyewitness, testifier, deponent, affiant, attestor
- court rolesjudge, juror, plaintiff, defendant, prosecutor
- keyskeychain, keyring, keyway, keycard, passkey
- testimonyoral testimony, court testimony, sworn testimony, sworn statements, legal testimony
- protected personsnoncombatant, civilian, refugee, asylum seeker, minor
key witnessdefendant
Party facing charges
accused · hostile witness · perjurer · false witness · obstructor
key witnessdefendant
Party facing charges
accused · perpetrator · suspect · plaintiff · co-conspirator
key, witness, keys, keyed, keying, keyless, keyboard, keyhole, keystone