What is “hearsay” evidence, and why is it usually not accepted?
One type of evidence that usually is not allowed by the rules of evidence is “hearsay.” Hearsay is what might be called “second-hand” evidence. It usually involves a witness testifying not about what he or she personally saw or heard, but to establish as a fact something someone else told the witness. Hearsay evidence is generally not admissible because it may place crucial evidence before the court without allowing the other side to confront the person who is being quoted to challenge the accuracy of the statement or the credibility of the person who made it. For example: During a bank robbery, a teller, Ms. A, is the only person who gets a good look at the robber. She tells Officer B that, although the robber was wearing a mask, “he looked like Mr. C,” (a former bank employee). Mr. C is arrested and tried for the robbery. Shortly thereafter, Ms. A moves out of town and cannot be located to testify about what she saw. At the trial, the prosecutor calls Officer B as a witness and asks
