Collecting testimony from witnesses, victims or suspects is included in the standard list of investigative actions. These documents will be referred to more than once during the consideration of a criminal case, and they will be referred to when making decisions. But, despite the nervous atmosphere of the interrogation, one should behave calmly in the testimony, try to concentrate and answer questions in a balanced way.
Instructions
Step 1
To testify, you must be summoned by a summons, which will be handed to you personally, and you must sign the receipt of it. Those. you will have time to mentally prepare for the trial. If it is impossible to appear at the time indicated in the summons, notify the inquiry officer about this in advance and indicate a valid reason, which will then need to be confirmed by documents.
Step 2
At the beginning of the conversation, you must provide your passport details to establish your identity. Hear the message that should be read to you about your rights and responsibilities. Find out as a witness in which case you were summoned, and only then begin to testify.
Step 3
When talking about an event that you are witnessing, try to focus, even if you are very excited. The interrogator may ask you clarifying questions and try to identify those facts that you forgot to mention. Do not rush to answer them. First, think about the meaning of the question, clarify it if necessary. Give calm, thoughtful answers. If you are sure of what you are saying, insist on it. In a conversation (with the obligatory registration in the protocol), note your doubts and uncertainties.
Step 4
Do not speculate anything, state only the facts. Attempts to mix truth and falsehood, trying to present the situation in a different light, are fraught with accusations of perjury. In conditions of time pressure, mental and emotional tension, inconsistencies will still be noticed. Directly say that you have forgotten something, have not seen or do not know.
Step 5
Make sure that the interrogator keeps a record of the interrogation, preferably that your story is recorded verbatim. After the end of the interrogation, you have the right to make additional notes and corrections to it. Immediately under its text, without leaving any free space, put your signature, give its decryption and indicate the date.
Step 6
Do not panic if you receive a second call to testify. If you remembered something and can supplement your initial testimony, do it calmly - no one should accuse you of hiding the truth. This is natural when, over time, additional details emerge in a person's memory. Therefore, be sure to tell about them if it happened. Your civic duty is to cooperate with the investigation, demonstrate your readiness for this.
