Witness

[Kat]

Last Saturday I *witnessed* some potentially criminal activity and had the instinct to pause and watch and try to figure out what I was seeing.

It turned out to be on the local news the following week.

I called the police and gave an in-person oral statement of what I saw. I was told that I had pretty much described the event that another, or a couple of others had also *witnessed.*
My input was appreciated but I did not need to sign a statement or anything.

The thing is, I was with my friend and she was driving. I knew to ask her to pause so I could observe this suspicious behavior. We passed the guy and I watched in the side passenger mirror. My friend never really did stop, so I lost my view. She did keep watching tho, in her side mirror.
She was unconcerned, but my instincts were working.

Later when the officer came to hear what I had to say, I warned him I could not identify the color of the vehicle, the description of the man other than an approximate age, or anything else other than an approximate time.

Well, I got the sequence of events correct and did describe pretty accurately what transpired (verified by the policeman), but as to being an observer to the point of giving a description of the truck, man or dog, I failed miserably, according to my girlfriend.

I knew it too. I would like to be a better witness, but I'm just not good at it.

My girlfriend, when I phoned her later about this, described to me confidently the color and model of the truck, the color of the mans' hair, the color of the dog, even the color of the leash!

Jeesh!

I decided that some people have a subjective instinct to be suspicious of what's happening (me), and other's might have a dispassionate, objective view to the point of recording what they see to memory (her).
If so, we make a good team.

I still feel like I wish I could be a better witness, as to describing a person. Ain'tgonna happen tho- unless I was to be actually professionally trained.

Missy, when you took your Criminalist's courses, did they teach you how to witness something?

I am always reminded of the ladies out riding on Third Street where one said she saw this and that on Thursday, Aug. 4th and her daughter-in-law gave her regrets that her mother-in-laws' memory was faulty!

Witness Statements, 33-

"Fall River September 2, 1892.
In pursuance of orders I this day visited Mrs. John Marshall at Pawtucket. I was unable to secure an interview with her because Mr. Jennings had telephoned to allow no one to see her until he came on. I waited until next day, when Mr. Jennings and I had an interview with her, and she made the following statement. She was out riding in company with Mrs. Robert Marshall in Fall River on the fourth of August. They were going south through Third street about eleven o’clock, or a few minutes after. When opposite Dr. Chagnon’s house, she saw a horse and top buggy, and a man standing beside it. He was not in a hurry, did not seem excited; no blood or anything on his clothing; nothing in his hands, but simply standing beside his carriage, and presently he got in, but did not notice which way he went. He had a red face. In concluding, she said “that is all I know.”

September 8. This day visited Mrs. Robert Marshall at the Melon House. She is what I consider a very upright conscientious woman. After calling in Asst. Marshal Fleet that he might be a witness to what was said, I inquired of Mrs. Robert Marshall if she concurred In the statement made by her mother in law. She said “No, I cannot. I was with my mother in law on the 4th of August riding out. While I know it will make more or less feeling in my family, yet I must tell The truth, and I cannot say that I saw anything at all either on Third street, or anywhere else, that could be construed into a suspicious circumstance. While on Third street in front of Dr. Chagnon’s house, there was absolutely nothing at all; neither did she call my attention to anything at all. When we passed, the High School Building it was 10.45, she told me so herself. I am sorry I cannot agree with her, but it is my duty to tell what I honestly believe to be the truth.”

Would You make a good witness?

Have you ever had to give a statement as a witness? How much credence do you give these Witnesses in life or in this Borden murder case?

[Harry]

Good for you Kat in getting involved. Unfortunately today we need neighborhood watches for mutual protection.

I always thought Mrs. Churchill made a good witness.

[Kat]

I do hope neighbors look out especially for the children. This was a brazen approach to a group of kids. A man with a puppy- Pulleeze!.

I once was robbed of my purse, at night, and chased the guy for like 10 minutes. When it came time to describe him, I only could remember his hat!

I am interested in whether members think they could make an ID of someone - especially under circumstances where one doesn't really know a crime is occuring?
Has anyone tried?

[kfactor]

Hi All,

There is actually a large body of literature on the unreliability of eyewitness testimony. Due to the nature of human memory, in addition to situational factors, research has shown that eyewitness testimony is subject to all kinds of error. If you are interested, Elizabeth Loftus has been doing research on eyewitness testimony for years...

Her work is very interesting. However, she has sparked great contoversy in terms of "recovered memories" and abuse, etc.

Anyway, Kat - don't feel like you are not a good witness. Apparently, it's a very difficult thing to do (remember details) accurately.

Yes, I am a psychology dork!

Kristin

[Kat]

Thanks for the info!

I love the psychology angle.
My friend Mary might be a form of Mrs. Churchill, actually. I don't know that Mrs. Churchill was correct in her witnessing- as I cannot corroborate what my friend described.
I recalled- with caveat to the officer- a small white truck and a whitish shorthaired dog. I thought the dog was like a pitbull mix.

My friend said it was a big red truck, maybe an F150 ad the dog was longhaired and reddish blonde and maybe 10 months old. I admit she had a better view than I did. Still, we were several houses away.

I was very surprised to be so wrong. If I was so wrong.
I'd like to think that with my true crime interests, I'd make a good witness. But I guess not.

[sguthmann]

My experience and reading on the matter suggests that some people are just innately better "witnesses" than others - meaining that some people are just born being able to quickly note and retain details better and more accurately than others.

The upside to this is that practically anyone can train his/herself to hone their skills so as to be better at observing and retaining information, especially in "split-second" situations. People can be "trained" to be better witnesses. Law enforcement receive such training, but really anyone can improve their ability to take in a "snapshot" of a scene and/or situation and later be able to recall the details more accurately.

[Constantine]

Kat, in my opinion your very awareness of your limitations makes you an excellent witness: you told exactly what you remembered instead of embellishing or trying to fill in the blanks -- which is what a lot of people do, usually unconsciously.

[Kat]

Thanks- that is reassuring.
I did also resist my compulsion to call my friend and compare notes- I rethought that and decided 2 untainted witnesses were better than none.