A witness who is antagonistic to the party calling them and, being unwilling to tell the truth, may have to be asked leading questions.
〔律〕恶意证人（对要求其出庭方怀有敌意，因此不愿提供真相，以致需反复盘问者）
Example sentencesExamples
It was not clear, however, whether a previous inconsistent statement could be proved against a hostile witness, by calling other witnesses, in the event he denied making it.
The Court also held that the Magistrate's decision not to declare the police officer a hostile witness was discretionary and did not involve an error of law.
In my amended written submission before the honourable court I pointed out 52 instances where the primary judge accepted the lies of hostile witnesses as truth and totally disregarded any evidence which was in my favour.
The only evidence inculpating him in the offence was that of a 17-year-old person who was declared a hostile witness at trial in order to extract the evidence inculpating him.
He would then step down as counsel and become the hostile witness for the defence.
Definition of hostile witness in US English:
hostile witness
noun
Law
A witness who is antagonistic to the party calling them and, being unwilling to tell the truth, may have to be cross-examined by the party.
〔律〕恶意证人（对要求其出庭方怀有敌意，因此不愿提供真相，以致需反复盘问者）
Example sentencesExamples
In my amended written submission before the honourable court I pointed out 52 instances where the primary judge accepted the lies of hostile witnesses as truth and totally disregarded any evidence which was in my favour.
The Court also held that the Magistrate's decision not to declare the police officer a hostile witness was discretionary and did not involve an error of law.
It was not clear, however, whether a previous inconsistent statement could be proved against a hostile witness, by calling other witnesses, in the event he denied making it.
The only evidence inculpating him in the offence was that of a 17-year-old person who was declared a hostile witness at trial in order to extract the evidence inculpating him.
He would then step down as counsel and become the hostile witness for the defence.