Rules of Evidence

Admissible Evidence: Evidence which is relevant and properly obtained and which may be used to arrive at a conclusion in the disciplinary hearing.

Authentic Evidence: Reliable, genuine, and trustworthy.

Irrefutable or Irrebuttable Evidence: Evidence which cannot be refuted or denied e.g. evidence which is clear-cut and conclusive.

Hearsay Evidence: Evidence given by a person who recounts what he did not observe or perceive through his own senses but heard from someone else. (This evidence is not normally admissible.)

Opinion Evidence: Where a witness draws conclusions from his/her observations.

Expert Witness: A person who is an expert/competent or giving an opinion; evidence about the facts in question in the disciplinary hearing e.g. medical doctor.

Direct Evidence: Where a witness testifies that he saw someone doing something or he heard someone say something.

Circumstantial Evidence: Evidence from which inferences can be drawn from.

Real Evidence: Consisting of things which are examined by the chairperson as means of proof. Such items are submitted in order for the chairperson to see, feel or even hear for himself.

Material Evidence: Evidence that comes in the form of documents. A party submitting documents as evidence is required to prove that it is authentic. To prove authenticity, a witness must be called to testify that the documents are what they purport to be and have not been tampered with.