In the context of forensic medicine and legal proceedings, understanding the types of examination and questioning is crucial. The scenario provided involves a specific interaction during a court proceeding:
In this scenario, when the lawyer asks the witness, "Were you present when A killed B?" and the witness answers "yes," this type of questioning is associated with cross examination.
Let's break down the options:
- Examination in chief: This is the initial questioning of a witness by the party who called them, focusing on favorable evidence.
- Direct examination: Similar to examination in chief, wherein the lawyer questions their own witness to bring out the facts of the case.
- Redirect examination: Conducted after cross-examination, aiming to clarify any harmful effects or doubts created during cross-examination.
- Cross examination: This is conducted by the opposing party's lawyer. The primary objective is to challenge the accuracy and reliability of the testimony given in examination in chief.
Here, the lawyer's question to confirm the witness's presence at the scene is indicative of cross-examination, aiming to challenge or confirm presented facts through targeted questioning.