​KembaraXtra – Legal Terms – Opinion Evidence


Opinion evidence is evidence given by a witness concerning opinions, beliefs, or conclusions rather than direct facts personally observed.


Under the traditional common-law rule, opinion evidence is generally inadmissible because witnesses are expected to testify only to factual matters.


However, important exceptions exist. Witnesses may give opinions relating to matters such as identification, impressions, or ordinary observations.


Expert witnesses are permitted to provide opinions within their area of expertise where the subject matter lies beyond ordinary judicial knowledge.


Opinion evidence therefore plays an important role in fields such as medicine, engineering, handwriting analysis, and forensic science.