material witness

Thân thiện

A material witness provides key testimony in the courtroom.

Definition

Noun: A material witness is a person whose testimony is considered both directly relevant to the core facts of a legal case and essential for the court to reach a just resolution. Their evidence is deemed crucial to establishing key facts.

Usage

The term is used primarily in legal contexts to describe a witness whose account is vital to the proceedings. - The prosecution argued that the informant was a material witness to the conspiracy and requested protective custody. - The judge issued a subpoena for the material witness to ensure their testimony at the trial. - Defense attorneys sought to depose the material witness before the trial began.

Advanced Usage

• "to hold someone as a material witness": A legal procedure where a person is detained, not because they are accused of a crime, but to guarantee their availability to testify. This is subject to strict legal standards.
  • The authorities obtained a court order to hold the individual as a material witness.
• The concept often interacts with constitutional rights, balancing the need for testimony against an individual's liberty.

Variants and Related Words

• Witness (n): A broader term for anyone who gives evidence or can give a first-hand account of an event.
• Key witness (n): A similar term emphasizing the witness's importance, though it may not carry the same specific legal implications regarding detention as "material witness."

Synonyms

• Crucial witness
• Essential witness
• Vital witness

Related Phrases

• "to be deemed a material witness": To be officially classified as such by a legal authority.
  • After reviewing the evidence, the detective was deemed a material witness in the corruption inquiry.
• "material witness warrant": A court-issued warrant for the arrest or detention of a material witness to secure their testimony.
  • A material witness warrant was issued when the individual failed to respond to the subpoena.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a witness whose testimony is both relevant to the matter at issue and required in order to resolve the matter