What is Not Hearsay Examples?
Hearsay is a statement made by someone other than the witness testifying in court. It is usually inadmissible as evidence in a court of law because it is difficult to verify the truth of the statement. However, there are some statements that are not considered hearsay and are allowed as evidence in court.
If the statement has no truth value or if truth value is irrelevant, then the statement is not hearsay. For example, testimony that someone else engaged in a “verbal act” is not hearsay. This includes statements that are not intended to be taken as true, such as jokes, insults, and opinions.
Statements made by a witness that are not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted are also not hearsay. For example, if a witness testifies that they heard someone say “I am going to kill you”, this statement is not offered to prove that the person intended to kill the other person. Rather, it is offered to prove that the statement was made.
Another example of a statement that is not hearsay is a statement made for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment. This includes statements made by a patient to a doctor or nurse about their symptoms. These statements are not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, but rather to show that the patient was seeking medical help.
Statements made for the purpose of identification are also not hearsay. For example, if a witness testifies that they saw a person commit a crime, this statement is not offered to prove that the person actually committed the crime. Rather, it is offered to prove that the witness saw the person in question.
Finally, statements made by a witness that are not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted are also not hearsay. For example, if a witness testifies that they heard someone say “I am going to kill you”, this statement is not offered to prove that the person intended to kill the other person. Rather, it is offered to prove that the statement was made.
In conclusion, there are several types of statements that are not considered hearsay and are allowed as evidence in court. These include statements that have no truth value, statements made for the purpose of medical diagnosis or treatment, statements made for the purpose of identification, and statements made by a witness that are not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted.