Editing Witness (section)

== Types ==
A [[Perception|percipient]] witness (or '''eyewitness''') is one with knowledge obtained through their own [[sense]]s (e.g., [[visual perception]], [[hearing]], [[Olfaction|smell]], touch).  That perception might be either with the unaided human sense or with the aid of an instrument, such as [[microscope]] or [[stethoscope]].

A ''[[hearsay]]'' witness is one who testifies about what someone else said or wrote.  In most court proceedings there are many limitations on when hearsay evidence is admissible.  Such limitations do not apply to grand jury investigations, many administrative proceedings, and may not apply to declarations used in support of an arrest or search warrant.  Also some types of statements are not deemed to be hearsay and are not subject to such limitations.

An ''[[expert witness]]'' is one who allegedly has specialized knowledge relevant to the matter of interest, which knowledge purportedly helps to either make sense of other evidence,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2014-11-07|title=Discovery|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/justice-101/discovery|access-date=2020-10-22|website=www.justice.gov|language=en}}</ref> including other testimony, documentary evidence or physical evidence (e.g., a fingerprint).  An expert witness may or may not also be a percipient witness, as in a doctor or may or may not have treated the victim of an accident or crime.

A ''[[character witness]]'' testifies about the personality of a defendant if it helps to solve the crime in question.<ref name=":0" />

A ''[[crown witness]]'' is one who incriminates former accomplices in a crime who following receive either a lower sentence, immunity or also a protection of themselves or/and their family by the court. After they have provided the court with their testimony they often enter into a witness protection program.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008|title=Good practices for the protection of witnesses in criminal proceedings involving organized crime|url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/organized-crime/Witness-protection-manual-Feb08.pdf|access-date=21 October 2020|website=[[United Nations]]|page=19}}</ref>

A ''[[secret witness]]'' or ''anonymous witness'' is one whose identity is kept secret by the court.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Witness protection and anonymity {{!}} The Crown Prosecution Service|url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/witness-protection-and-anonymity|access-date=2020-12-14|website=www.cps.gov.uk}}</ref>{{multiple issues|section=yes|
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