Content Analysis of the Witness Statements: Evaluation of the Scientific and Judicial Validity of the Hypothesis and the Forensic Proof
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5944/ap.14.2.21347Keywords:
statement validity analysis, criteria based content analysis, global de evaluation system, testimony credibility, proof admissibilityAbstract
Assessing the credibility of a testimony is a crucial step in judicial decision-making, primarily when inconsistencies arise due to conflicting versions of events. The evaluation of the veracity of a testimony based on verbal cues, in particular those based on the Undeutsch hypothesis that contends that the memory of self-experienced real-life events differ in content and quality (as defined by reality criteria) from the memory of fabricated or fictitious accounts, is considered to be the most effective tool for assessing credibility. This hypothesis has given rise to a forensic technique known as Statement Validity Analysis (SRA) that includes a list of reality criteria i.e., Criteria Based Content Analysis (CBCA). Meta-analytical reviews support the discriminatory power of CBCA reality criteria and the CBCA total score in distinguishing between the memory of self-experienced real-life events versus fabricated or fictitious accounts in all types of populations (children and adults), witnesses (plaintiffs, witnesses, and defendants), and memories (sexual abuse, gender violence). A hypothesis must fulfil the Daubert standards for it to be admitted as scientific evidence in a court of law, as is the case of the Undeutsch hypothesis. Notwithstanding, the scientific evidence upholding this hypothesis in terms of reality criteria does not substantiate the validity of this forensic technique. A review of this technique revealed it failed to meet scientific criteria (CBCA is not a methodic system, and is neither valid nor reliable; and it lacks criterion validity as there is no strict objective decision criterion); and has legal and jurisprudential flaws (no safeguards guaranteeing the constitutional principle of the presumption of innocence; witness interviews to obtain statements may lack judicial validity; and fail to evaluate appropriately the consistency of the evidence). Finally, a forensic technique based on the content analysis of statements, the Global Evaluation System (GES), is examined in order to overcome the limitations of SVA.
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