Word of the Week | Credibility

The credibility of a witness is in essence the believability of a witness, and in part depends upon the assessment of truthfulness of the witness based upon his or her actions and conduct, credible or incredible as they may be. Credibility is also based upon the reliability of the witness's testimony having regard to a number of considerations including:

1. the witness's opportunity to perceive;
2. his or her actual perception;
3. the witness's ability to recall and communicate to the Court;
4. the stress that the particular witness may have been under at the time;
5. the witness's demeanour and the manner of testifying, and
6. whether the witness has an interest in the outcome of the proceedings