hostile witness


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Related to hostile witness: adverse witness

hostile witness

n
(Law) a witness who gives evidence against the party calling him
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.hostile witness - a witness whose relationship to the opposing party is such that his or her testimony may be prejudiced against the opposing partyhostile witness - a witness whose relationship to the opposing party is such that his or her testimony may be prejudiced against the opposing party; "a hostile witness can be asked leading questions and cross-examined"
witness - (law) a person who testifies under oath in a court of law
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in classic literature ?
The evidence is, also, derived from hostile witnesses, who in all other cases consider fertility and sterility as safe criterions of specific distinction.
Taking over from Muthomi, lawyers George Wajakoya said that the court should declare Kitany a hostile witness and also have her to undergo a psychiatric test.
At the trial he replied 'I don't know' to most questions and the judge allowed prosecutors to treat him as a 'hostile witness'.
Somewhat astonished, the EFCC counsel told the court that he will be asking for adjournment as the witness seems to be a hostile witness.
"The papers state the complainer is a hostile witness and only gave verbal information about what happened.
Over the weekend, Trillanes issued a statement that he plans to call Paolo as a hostile witness to the Senate probe and ask him to reveal his dragon tattoo and open his bank account.
I tried to get as a hostile witness the head of the COMELEC [Commission on Elections] Information Technology Department a certain director Ferdinand de Leon but unfortunately, two weeks before the hearing, he resigned at the age of 43," he stated.
But Trump is still a damaging and hostile witness to his own cause -- the chief architect of the "narrative arc" that prosecutors will use against him.
Among the topics are preparing to give deposition testimony, beginning a deposition: the usual admonitions, questions you can refuse to answer, taking a deposition: deposing a hostile witness, and visually recorded depositions.
Victoria became a "hostile witness" to the prosecution because of contradictory evidence she'd given throughout the case.
Juvenile housemaid case: Court declares tortured girl's father 'hostile witness'
However, during cross-examination the said witness had given certain answers favouring the defence, therefore, he was declared as hostile witness and was also cross-examined by the prosecution.