What is a characteristic of testimonial evidence?

Testimonial evidence is characterized by being provided by witnesses who give their accounts under oath, typically in a legal context. This is significant because the act of swearing an oath emphasizes the seriousness and credibility of the testimony being provided. Witnesses are expected to share their personal knowledge or observations pertaining to a case, thus adding weight to the information presented in court or during an investigation.

This characteristic distinguishes testimonial evidence from written documents, which are not a requirement for this type of evidence, and from hearsay, which lacks direct verification and is often considered unreliable. Additionally, while testimonial evidence can include observations, it does not necessarily have to be based on direct observation; witnesses may share their accounts based on what they have heard or been told, as long as it is in the context of their personal experience or knowledge. Thus, the clarity of the requirement for testimonial evidence to come from witnesses under oath is vital to its role in legal and investigative processes.