What is the purpose of impeachment of a witness in criminal proceedings?

The purpose of impeachment of a witness in criminal proceedings in California is to test the credibility of a witness. This process involves questioning the witness and challenging his/her statements on the stand. In other words, the purpose of impeachment is to discredit the witness’s testimony and to show that the witness is unreliable. When a witness is impeached, the opposing party can seek to challenge the witness’s credibility and reliability through the introduction of evidence such as prior inconsistent statements, opinions of experts which contradict the witness’s testimony, and evidence of the witness’s character. Additionally, if the witness is found to be biased or to have a conflict of interest in relation to the case, that bias and conflict of interest can be used to discredit him/her. The ultimate purpose of impeaching a witness in criminal proceedings in California is to show the jury that the witness may not be reliable and to stop the witness from providing testimony which could be used to make an incorrect decision in the case. This process can be very important in criminal trials, as it can prevent an innocent person from being wrongly convicted and can help to ensure that the jury makes the correct decision based upon all the available evidence.

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What is the purpose of impeachment of a witness in criminal proceedings?

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