hostile witness

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Related to hostile witness: adverse witness

hostile witness

A witness in a trial who testifies for the opposing party and is subject to cross-examination by the same party that called him or her as a direct witness due to antagonism demonstrated during direct examination. Witnesses called by the opposing party are presumed hostile. A witness can be declared hostile by a judge at the request of the examiner, when the witness' testimony is openly antagonistic or when clearly prejudiced to the opposing party.

References in periodicals archive ?

Crushing impeachment of a hostile witness. It's what every trial lawyer dreams about.

How not to be a hot mess in the hot seat

All that being said by no other person than a "wise defense witness" who found himself in a political fixture that makes him turns into a "hostile witness" and turns the table up-side-down, one is inclined to ask the international community whether it will consider other options in dealing with the situation or continue entertaining the Old Monkey's proverbial code of silence "See no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil".

Sudan's "stolen verdict"

Mr Mainstone, who was granted permission to crossexamine Mr Haigh as a hostile witness, read back the initial statement he gave to police on June 6 in which he gave a detailed account of the assault.

Three from same family accused of brutal attack; Brothers and son deny assault with crowbar

The smallest piece of information may be enough to convict them." O'Riordan, originally went on trial for murder last July, but he pleaded guilty to manslaughter after his girlfriend was declared a hostile witness. The court was told that Aidan and Gearoid had been driving into Dundalk together on December 12, 2006, when their car was rammed from behind at Faughart.

SMIRKING KILLER; Machete thug smiles as judge jails him for nine years

David Boies, the lead lawyer for Hands and London-based Terra Firma, told US District Judge Jed Rakoff yesterday that he will call Wormsley as a hostile witness in the trial, which began this week.

Citigroup's Wormsley to testify in $8.3b lawsuit

Beyond that, though, the series plays like a pretty straightforward procedural--similar in tone to "Homicide," including one profane (and frequently bleeped) interview with a hostile witness. It's not bad, but it initially looks relatively uninspired next to TV's best copshows, including current entries such as TNT's "Southland."

Detroit 1-8-7

Could it be that getting a hostile witness to answer questions is as hard as catching a snipe?

A snipe-hunter's guide to coaxing answers from hostile witnesses: some witnesses seem to be as elusive as the mythical snipe. But preparation and skillful questioning can enable you to bag your quarry

You may also be called by the other side, perhaps as a hostile witness. If you are called as a hostile witness, the other side may ask leading questions on direct examination, so the effect is simply to reverse the order of events: the cross-examination comes first, followed by direct and then re-cross.

RIM on the hot seat: what to expect when testifying: litigation can be stressful, intrusive, and exhaustive--so it's best to keep deposition and trial testimony simple, short, and honest

The prosecution was so frustrated by Reyat's evasions that it applied to have him declared a hostile witness. Justice Josephson refused the request.

Loss of faith

It should be a human right to ask to take such a test or to demand that a hostile witness do the same.

Anydoubt, detect lie

Lambertson was also surprised to discover that the defendant, General Crook, was a hostile witness, as were several of Crook's subordinates who had carried out the Interior Department's orders by arresting the Poncas.

Standing bear: American: after his people were unjustly evicted from their homeland in Nebraska, Chief Standing Bear--aided by one of the Army's most renowned Indian fighters--mounted a legal challenge to prove what should have been obvious: Indians were people under the law

Just as an admission by a hostile witness is more valuable than one made by a friendly witness, an admission by a witness who fights yon every step of the way is even more valuable.

Cross-examination in employment cases: if the defendant is trying to cover up vengeful retaliation or malicious discrimination, cross-examination is your best opportunity to expose the lie