However, the evidence they still have considerable problems with regard to its probative value. Thus, por ejemplo, en el mismo proceso al ex Presidente Fujimori, se han presentado testigos que se contradicen entre ellos; otros que han cambiado la versión de sus declaraciones; algunos han declarado lo que le han contado otros, pero que ellos mismos no han observado. Ahora bien, teniendo en cuenta la importancia de los testimonios para probar si un hecho ha ocurrido o no, pero, a su vez, los riesgos que tiene este tipo de medios probatorios, la pregunta que surge es ¿cuál debe ser el análisis que debe seguir el Juez para determinar la admisibilidad y el valor probatorio de los testimonios?
Para algunos, el problema se resuelve dejando sin valor probatorio a los testimonios contradictorios, o, en todo caso, restando su valor casi to a minimum. For others, the problem is solved by allowing the judge to assess the evidence with "test of conscience." His conscience will determine which witnesses to believe and which to reject, but I do not see that is special about the conscience of a judge to confide in him and only him, the determination of whether a witness is credible or not.
From my point of view, if there is no rational mechanism to assess the credibility of a witness, this form of evidence should not be allowed in the process. One of the requirements for a decision to be fair, is it is proved that the alleged acts occurred in reality, through rational and intersubjective means that allow the parties, and society in general, check whether the facts stated proven, in fact, have that quality. Luckily
The testimony is not an irrational means of proof. Indeed, the doctrine has been discussing the issues that must be taken into account in determining whether a witness can be accepted and valued as evidence (competence, honesty, objectivity, etc..), Techniques that enable them to assess these aspects and mechanisms that would establish the probative value would be given to the testimony (the Bayesian theorem and Bacon).
In this short commentary, I refer, broadly speaking, the aspects to be evaluated by the court when determining whether a witness can serve or not, as proof. Not discuss the techniques that enable them to assess aspects such as the direct and cross-examination, polygraph, psychological assessments, among others. Nor will discuss the models that were designed to determine the probative value that is assigned to the testimony.
In this sense, among the issues that have been identified to determine if the testimony of a person can be accepted and valued as evidence include the following: (i) the competence of the witness, and (ii) the credibility of testimony.
The first issue is whether the witness has perceived and understood facts contained in his statement. Therefore, hearsay witnesses would not be valid witnesses, because they have not witnessed the events reported. Such witnesses are stating the facts that others have told, but may be no way to assess the competence and credibility of that person. Similarly, if the witness has no ability to understand the facts stated, there can be a valid witness, which is usually the case of children.
The second aspect concerns the credibility of testimony. To do this, will assess the honesty, objectivity and sensory abilities of the witness. The first point is intended to determine whether the witness has been convicted of lying or conceal the truth. The second point, it is referred to whether the witness has any interest or bias that can affect the perception of the facts stated in his testimony. For example, a racist person would be influenced by their prejudices at the time to perceive the behavior of another person for the arrest of four youths in Larcomar illustrate this point [2] . The third point, it is referred to determine how good is the sensory capacity of the witness on the facts as stated perception. Some people, without glasses, can not distinguish the face from one person to three meters. However, there may be others whose senses above functions average and observe details that most people can not.
Other aspects are taken into account when assessing the credibility of a witness, are referred to whether there was other independent evidence pointing in one direction, documents, etc. However, these aspects are more referrals to the probative value on the whole of the evidence taken in the process the credibility of testimony.
As can be seen, if there are certain attributes and elements that must be evaluated by the judge before evaluating a witness, which must be expressed in its statement at the time of founding because it accepts or rejects a particular witness. Therefore, the judges should be required to analyze a testimony to the criterion of consciousness, but consciousness. The judge is obliged to rationally justify why they accept a particular test, and nothing else. This is the only way citizens can determine whether the decision was issued in accordance with law.
For those interested in these issues, here are some resources on this subject:
Schuman, David and Jon Morris. Asssesing the human competence and Credibility of Evidence source of intelligence: Contributions from law and probability. 6 Law, Probability & Risk, March / December, 2007.
Schuman, David. The evidential foundations of probabilistic Reasoning. New York, Willey, 1994.
YOUNGER, Irving. The art of cross-examination. American Bar Association. No. 1.
MAUET, Thomas A. Trials. Strategy, skills, and the new Powers of Persuation. Aspen Publisher, 2005.
WALTON, Douglas. Witness Testimony Evidence. Argumentation, artificial intelligence, and law. Cambridge, 2008.
[1] connection, you can review the following decisions of the Constitutional Court where it takes this position: Judgement relapse 402-2006-PHC/TC File No. (if Luis Enrique Rojas Alvarez), sentence passed in Exp 3390-2005-PHC/TC (if Margarita Toledo), judgment on 005-2006-PHC/TC File No. (if Umberger Manuel Sandoval) sentence passed on the Record 1939-2004-HC/TC (Ricardo Gomez Casafranca case). Also the following judgments: 1296-2007 and RN RN N ° 224-2005.
[2] regard, see the following links:
http://www.elcomercio.com.pe/edicionimpresa/Html/2008-06-19/malditos-larcomar.html
http:/ / www.peru21.com/comunidad/Columnistas/html/BruceIndex.html