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Simple English definitions for legal terms
two-witness rule
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A quick definition of two-witness rule:
The two-witness rule is a guideline that requires at least two people to confirm that someone lied under oath before they can be charged with perjury. This means that one person's word alone is not enough to prove that someone committed perjury. Instead, there must be additional evidence or another witness to support the claim.
A more thorough explanation:
The two-witness rule is a legal principle that requires two independent witnesses or one witness along with corroborating evidence to establish that the alleged perjurer gave false testimony. This rule is used to support a perjury conviction.
Suppose a witness testifies in court that they saw the defendant commit a crime. However, the defendant's lawyer presents evidence that the witness was not present at the scene of the crime. To prove that the witness committed perjury, the two-witness rule would require another witness or corroborating evidence to support the claim that the witness gave false testimony.
Another example could be a case where a witness testifies that they saw the defendant steal a car. However, the defendant's lawyer presents evidence that the witness was not in the area at the time of the theft. To prove that the witness committed perjury, the two-witness rule would require another witness or corroborating evidence to support the claim that the witness gave false testimony.
These examples illustrate how the two-witness rule is used to ensure that a perjury conviction is based on reliable evidence. It prevents a conviction based on the testimony of a single witness, which may be unreliable or biased.