释义 |
hostile witness An adverse witness who wilfully refuses to testify truthfully on behalf of the party who called him. A hostile witness may, with the permission of the court, be cross-examined by that party and have put to him a previous statement that is inconsistent with his present testimony. Under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 where the witness admits making a previous inconsistent statement, or his previous inconsistent statement is proved against him, the statement is inadmissible as evidence of any matter stated of which oral evidence by him would be admissible. |