How are witnesses examined in a court-martial?

When witnesses are called to testify during a court-martial in Washington, they are typically examined by the prosecution and defense. The prosecution will be the party bringing the charges against the accused and the defense is the accused’s representation in the case. Each side will ask questions of the witness, and the answers given are used to support the argument and evidence of the side questioning them. The examining party may also use physical evidence or documents to question a witness. For example, if an image was taken during the incident, the prosecution or defense may bring that image to court and ask the witness to identify and provide information about it. The witness may also be asked to explain the details of what they saw, heard, or experienced during the event in question. This testimony will be used to determine if the accused is guilty or found not guilty. The prosecution or defense, depending on who called the witness, may use a process called cross-examination when asking their questions. This is when the questioning is worded differently and in more detail so that the witness has to be as precise as possible about their testimony. At the end of the court-martial, all witnesses are required to stand up and be dismissed from the court. This is so that the court can make sure that their testimony does not sway the outcome of the trial in any way.

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How are witnesses examined in a court-martial?

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