testimonial evidence
Spoken courtroom proof
Testimonial evidence is information provided by witnesses through spoken or written statements, as opposed to physical evidence like documents or objects.
In legal contexts, it forms the backbone of many trials: The case rested largely on testimonial evidence from three eyewitnesses.
Courts distinguish testimonial evidence from other types because it depends on human memory and perception, which can be unreliable.
The term also appears in research and business contexts, where testimonial evidence refers to anecdotal accounts rather than statistical data.
- eyewitnessOne who saw events
- take the standGive sworn court testimony
- affidavitSworn written statement
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- tell the truthCommunicate facts honestly
impeachment · perjury · corroboration · hostile witness · credibility · hearsay · demeanor · admissibility · character witness · firsthand · cross-examination · viva voce · oath · anecdotal · bear witness · affirmation · vouch · courtroom
testimonial evidencephysical evidence
Tangible items proving facts
real evidence · documentary evidence · material evidence · forensic evidence · exhibits