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Simple English definitions for legal terms
prior consistent statement
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A quick definition of prior consistent statement:
A prior consistent statement is when someone says something that matches what they said before. This can be important in court if the person's testimony is being questioned. If they said something different before, that can make their current testimony less believable. But if they said the same thing before, it can help show that they are telling the truth. However, this type of statement can only be used for certain reasons and in certain ways in court.
A more thorough explanation:
A prior consistent statement is a witness's earlier statement that conflicts with the witness's testimony at trial. It is not hearsay if it is offered to rebut a charge that the testimony was improperly influenced or fabricated.
- If a witness testifies in court that they did not see the defendant at the scene of the crime, but had previously told the police that they did see the defendant, the prior consistent statement may be admissible to rebut a claim that the witness is lying or has been influenced to change their story.
- However, if the witness had never made a prior statement about the defendant's presence at the scene of the crime, then there would be no prior consistent statement to admit as evidence.
These examples illustrate how a prior consistent statement can be used in court to support or challenge a witness's credibility and the reliability of their testimony.