What is the role of a witness in court?

The role of a witness in court is fundamentally to provide evidence based on personal knowledge. This means that a witness is someone who has firsthand experience or observation of facts related to the case and can share that information to help the court understand what transpired. Their testimony is used to support or refute claims made by the parties involved in the legal proceedings, allowing the judge or jury to make informed decisions based on facts rather than assumptions.

Personal knowledge from a witness can come through direct observations, experiences, or interactions relevant to the case. This testimony is critical because it can shape the narrative of the trial, helping to establish timelines, identify individuals involved, and clarify details that are material to the legal arguments presented.

The other options do not accurately capture the specific and pivotal role of a witness in the courtroom. While witnesses may share information about financial matters in some cases, that is not their principal function. Similarly, witnesses do not take on the role of a legal defender or serve to summarize legal documents, as these tasks are clearly delineated for legal professionals such as attorneys and legal secretaries. Thus, the core responsibility of witnesses lies in providing evidence grounded in their own experiences and knowledge relevant to the case at hand.