Admissibility of testimony

Chance witness, in legal parlance, is a witness, who claims his presence on the spot at the relevant time; although, his presence on the spot is a sheer chance, as in the ordinary course of business, place of residence and normal course of events, he is not supposed to present on the spot, but at the place where he resides, carries on business or runs day to day affairs

Testimony of the chance witness, in such context, is ordinarily not accepted, unless justifiable reasons are shown to establish his presence at the crime scene at the relevant time, as in normal course, the presumption under the law would be that such witness was absent from the crime spot.

Testimony of chance witness can be relied upon in rare case, provided some convincing explanation appealing to a prudent mind of his presence on the crime venue when the occurrence took place, is put forth; otherwise, his/her testimony would fall within the category of suspect evidence and the same cannot be accepted without a pinch of salt.