Reliability Although eyewitness testimony is often assumed to be more reliable than circumstantial evidence, studies have established that individual, separate witness testimony is often flawed. Mistaken eyewitness identification may result from such factors as faulty observation and recollection, or bias, or may involve a witness's knowingly giving false testimony. If several people witness a crime, it is possible to look for commonalities in their testimony, which are more likely to represent events as they occurred, although differences are to be expected and don't of themselves indicate dishonesty. Witness identification will help investigators get an idea of what a criminal suspect looks like, but eyewitness recollection include mistaken or misleading elements.
Reliability Although eyewitness testimony is often assumed to be more reliable than circumstantial evidence studies have established that individual separate witness testimony is often flawed Mistaken eyewitness identification may result from such factors as faulty observation and recollection or bias or may involve a witness's knowingly giving false testimony If several people witness a crime it is possible to look for commonalities in their testimony which are more likely to represent events as they occurred although differences are to be expected and don't of themselves indicate dishonesty Witness identification will help investigators get an idea of what a criminal suspect looks like but eyewitness recollection include mistaken or misleading elements