what is hear say and what is not in court testamony?

Answer 1

Hearsay means third party information; the next best thing to a rumor. Courts want first ; I did this said that; or second person statements; I saw them do this heard them say that. Ex. Paul told Mike he saw Joe break a window. Mikes` testimony of these events would be hearsay. Mike would have to testify because he was a witness.

Answer 2

The definitions of hearsay above are correct and it is generally inadmissible. There are however some exceptions. The most common exception under the Federal Rules of evidence and some state rules of evidence is when the person the witness testifies made the hearsay statements about the defendant and the defendant are alleged to be co-conspirators to commit a crime.
So when A testifies that B told him C wanted to kill the victim and B and C are alleged to be co-conspirators in the murder, B's hearsay testimony about C will usually be admissible. That is why good prosecutors like to include conspiracy charges in their prosecutions because it makes it easy to prove other crimes as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearsay_in_United_States_law

Answer 3

Hearsay is the testimony (ie., statements in court) of what someone else said outside of court. It is generally not admissible as evidence because no one in court can cross examine teh person making the statement out of court.

There are many exceptions to the exclusion of hearsay, chief of which is that one can say what what someone else said if that other person is NOW before the court so s/he can now be cross examined. Others include routinely kept business records; dying declarations & admissions of opposing parties and their agents. They are admissible, but are still hearsay.

Incidentally, hearsay can be written hearsay -- for instance the content of a letter between two people who are not in court.

Answer 4

Hearsay is one word, but its meaning is much like you had asked, hear say, as in "I heard him say he stole the candy".

The word is a legal term of art, and has a specific meaning not applied outside of the legal profession. Specifically, it is applied to testimony in a court hearing. If the person testifying heard, (or read) someone else's words they are not allowed to repeat them in their testimony. (Unless the statement fits in one of the many exceptions which could allow the statement.)

Answer 5

Hearsay is usually inadmissible. It is one person testifying about what another person said. What is admissible is eye witness testimony: "I saw the defendant rob the liquor store."

Inadmissible would be: "My brother Jim told me the defendant robbed the liquor store."