Witness testimony is always flawed. It's better than circumstantial evidence, sure, but people aren't camcorders; they don't record every action and reaction, and the very act of remembering involves chosing words, actions and images. In other words, any witness who was supposed to be giving a court facts is really just giving them a version of fiction.
In the discussion on witness testimony, it's noted that while such accounts are preferable to circumstantial evidence, they are inherently imperfect. Witnesses are not objective recorders; rather, their memories are influenced by personal perceptions and choices, shaping the narrative they present. This means that their recollections are not pure facts but rather subjective interpretations of events.
The quote highlights the complexity of relying on eyewitness accounts in legal situations. It suggests that memory is an active process of selecting details, which can lead to discrepancies between what actually happened and what is remembered. Ultimately, it underscores the idea that every witness provides their own version of the truth, which complicates our understanding of reality in court proceedings.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
