Crimes happening around are more believable when there are worthy witnesses involved. To authorize these witnesses, there is a need to write witness statements which will serve as a legal document which records true statements of what these witnesses have seen, heard, or encountered during an occurrence of criminal acts.
On the other hand, a character witness statement may be given to help out a defendant and possibly give him a reduced sentence. By giving this statement, you become an impartial witness who shall give the legal authority an idea of the defendant’s character while explaining why he may have done the crime.
Accident Witness Statement
Accident Investigation Witness
Injury Witness Statement Form
Personal Injury Statement
Accident Witness Report
Employee Witness Statement
Non-Employee Incident
Employee Accident Witness
Employee Sub Contractor
What is a Witness Statement?
A witness statement is an important factor of decision-making during due processes of crimes. These statements help in reaching the verdict of a crime, as it is believed that upon submission of a Witness Affidavit Form, these witnesses have sworn to deliver or share nothing but true statements regarding the criminal act. This includes what the witnesses have seen, heard, or felt the moment an untoward incident happened. A witness statement is one of the strong evidences of a crime. Whatever statement is shared may be used against a suspect of any crime, meaning all the words uttered by a witness will matter.
How to Write a Witness Statement?
Writing a witness statement may conveniently be done when you are just tasked to fill up Witness Statement Forms or Student Statement Forms as you will only give what has been asked in the forms. Without these forms, you will have to remember these steps in writing a witness statement:
- Always give your details as the witness.
- Give a narrative statement of the all the things you have witnessed.
- Acknowledge that all you have stated are facts.
- Don’t forget to affix your signature.
Harassment Witness Statement
Sexual Harassment Witness
Harassment Witness Investigation
Worker’s Compensation Witness
Workers Compensation Witness
Workplace Violence Incident Report
Witness Statement Affidavit
Affidavit of Potential Witness
Sworn Confirmed Statement
Witness Sworn Affidavit
How to Write a Statement for Court Example?
In businesses, whenever there are worthy lawsuits to be discussed, some Employee Statement Forms may be used as evidences. However, when writing a statement for court, you should know that these statements must be carefully done. Below are steps on how you should write your statement for courts. For your convenience, some Free Statement Forms might also serve as your guide in writing these statements.
- Before writing a statement for court, make sure that you have remembered all the details of the crime and reflect on whether you are worthy to be called as a witness.
- Remember to keep everything brief and concise.
- Start writing by providing the court name, name of the case or the case number.
- Place small numbers before your paragraphs so that the judge or lawyers can easily go through all your statements.
- Give a short background of the case.
- Either you write your statements in bullet forms or in a narrative, make sure you give a clear and true statement or evidences about the crime. Also make sure that your statements come in a specific order, meaning, you should write statements according to the order of occurrences.
- Include a commitment that you have sworn to the law that all the statements you have provided are true and that you fully understand that all the statements will be used against the defendant.
- Certify your statement by affixing your signature over your printed name.
Witness Statement in DOC
Observation Records Witness
Student Witness Declaration
Witness Complainant’s Statement
Police Witness Form
Blank Witness Statement
Formal Witness Statement Form
10 Tips on Taking Witness Statements
Taking witness statements may need you to be both comprehensive and meticulous. It is simply the same as how you assess Financial Statement Forms and Health Statement Forms. Below are few tips you can adhere to when taking witness statements
- Use plain words. Remember that not all witnesses may know jargons of your profession as a lawyer. Make sure to use simple and plain words while conversing with your witness.
- Avoid side comments. When your witness says that the old man shouted at the child, avoid giving comments such as maybe he did that because the child urged him to get mad, etc.
- Ask for specific descriptions. Ask your witness to draw specific descriptions. Was the participant of a crime about 5’8 tall? Did he have brown or black hair? Did he have identifiable marks, scratches or tattoos?
- Ask for quotation marks. Without adding words on statement, ask your witness to quote what he have heard during the crime.
- Read through his eyes. Sometimes, we get to know whether he witness is stating facts through his eyes and other expressions or mannerisms.
- Take one witness at a time. Some crimes may include more than a single witness. Avoid doing group discussions and Interview one witness at a time, it may help you in assessing these statements too.
- Use a recorder. It may help you review your whole session.
- Do initial questioning. Beforehand, take notes of initial questions regarding your witnesses.
- Be patient. Your witnesses may not have a good memory, be patient and just record everything.
- Witness report. Always end your session by coming up with a witness report which may also be used during the trial.
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