Interviewing Witnesses

The prosecution should give you contact information for any witnesses. Contact them and arrange to interview them to find out what they are going to say in court. You must be extremely careful and keep your ego in check. This is NOT the time to argue your innocence. It is a serious criminal offence to tamper with a witness or threaten them.

Interviewing a witness is an opportunity to find out information that you will use later in trial to argue your innocence. Make the witness feel comfortable. Ask only factual questions. What did the witness do, what did they see. If the witness changes his or her story at trial, you will need evidence to contradict them. Interview them in the presence of a reliable third person, or record the interview with the witness' consent. In either case do whatever is most comfortable for the witness, not for you. In fact, invite the prosecutor or her representative to attend with you.