Mastering the Art of Questioning

Witnesses may be unwilling to cooperate due to fear of incrimination, desire to protect perpetrators, and fear of reprisals/revenge.

Information received from uncooperative witnesses should be considered with caution as they may intentionally deceive or provide vague information.

Witnesses may face reprisals or revenge if they assist with providing information.

<p>Interviewing and Interrogation</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Interviews take place as soon as possible after the incident, while interrogations usually take place at a later stage deliberately to give the interrogator enough time to gather as much information as possible.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Audio-visual recordings</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Single purpose interrogation, pessimism interrogation, guilt feelings interrogation</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An eyewitness is a person who personally saw the crime transpire, while a corroborative witness is a person who can provide information about the circumstances surrounding a crime.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The evidence of an eyewitness is given more weight during a trial because the witness was present and saw the suspect commit the crime.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Additional information such as ballistic testing of the gun found on the suspect or gunshot residue testing on the suspect's hand may be needed to support the assumption that the person seen running from the tuckshop committed the crime.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In the case of an eyewitness, their additional evidence adds value, while in the case of a corroborative witness, more evidence is required to support the conclusion of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Unbiased independent witnesses are characterized as third-party witnesses who are in no way associated with the victim, suspect, or the crime.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A PD is a verbal description of the physical features of an alleged perpetrator (a physical description).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Supplementary techniques used to assist witnesses include comparisons and corresponding descriptions, criminal photograph albums, sketches by police artists, and composite pictures of the face (IdentiKits).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Factors that can influence a witness's ability to observe with accuracy include eyesight, surrounding circumstances, exposure duration, emotional condition, previous experience, alcohol and/or drug intoxication, and mental health.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The weapon-focus effect draws the witnesses' attention away from the perpetrator's appearance to the weapon, making it more difficult for them to accurately recall the perpetrator's details.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Suggestion can lead to the creation of false memories in a witness through details picked up from external sources, such as other witnesses, newspapers, or the criminal investigator.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Prejudice and stereotyping can influence a witness's perception and lead to less accurate identifications, particularly when it comes to identifying individuals of different races or sexes.</p> Signup and view all the answers