What type of statements does hearsay exclude as evidence?

Hearsay is a legal term that pertains to an out-of-court statement made by someone other than the witness testifying about the statement. The general rule is that hearsay is inadmissible in court because it is not considered reliable evidence. This is due to various reasons, such as the inability to cross-examine the original speaker to assess their credibility and the context of the statement.

Second-hand accounts fall squarely into the definition of hearsay, as they typically involve one person recounting what someone else said. This makes them unreliable unless they fall under an exception in the hearsay rule. In contrast, witness statements that provide firsthand experience or testimony, as well as expert testimonies based on their knowledge and observations, are usually admissible. First-hand accounts are direct statements made by someone with firsthand knowledge of the facts, which are not considered hearsay.

This principle helps to maintain the integrity of evidence presented in legal proceedings, emphasizing the importance of direct, firsthand information over unverified third-party accounts.