LEV3701 NOTES 2023
BEST FOR REVISION.
TABLE OF CONTENTS page
CHAPTER: Evidence law General Introduction …………………………………….1
1.1 Meaning, Nature and purpose of Evidence law……………………………………….2
1.1.1 Evidence Law defined…………………...
CHAPTER: Evidence law General Introduction …………………………………….1
1.1 Meaning, Nature and purpose of Evidence law……………………………………….2
1.1.1 Evidence Law defined……………………………………………………....2
1.1.2 Nature of Evidence law…………………………………………………. …5
1.1.3 Purpose /significance of Evidence law…………………………………..…8
1.2 Development of Evidence law…………………………………………………….....11
1.3 Evidence in civil and common law legal systems …………………………………..13
1.4 Evidence in Ethiopia ………………………………………………………………...22
1.5 Evidence law in civil and criminal cases ……………………………………………25
1.6 Classification of evidence……………………………………………………………30
Chapter two: Facts, which may be proved other than by evidence ………………...33
2.1 Admitted facts……………………………………………………………………….34
2.1.1 Limitations of Admissions…………………………………………………..35
2.1.2 Classification of Admission: formal and informal admissions ……………...38
2.1.3 Types of Admissions: Judicial and Extra- Judicial ……………………….....39
2.1.3.1 Judicial Admissions civil and criminal cases …………………………40
2.1.3.2. Extra- Judicial Admission: Civil and criminal case………………….51
2.2 Presumption ………………………………………………………………………..54
2.2.1 General introduction: basic fact and presumed fact …………………………….54
2.2.2 Presumption of fact……………………………………………………………...58
2.2.3. Presumption of Law ……………………………………………………………60
2.2.3.1. Irrefutable Presumption ………………………………………………..61
2.2.3.2 Reputable presumptions…………………………………………………62
2.2.3.3 Permissive presumptions ………………………………………………66
2.3 Judicial Notice ……………………………………………………………………....68
2.3.1 Judicial notice of adjudicative facts …………………………………………..69
2.3.2 Judicial notice of law …………………………………………………………73
Chapter three: Relevance and admissibility of evidences …………………………..85
3.1 Facts in issue…………………………………………………………………………86
3.2 Relevant facts………………………………………………………………………...89
3.3 Facts Relevant to facts in issue……………………………………………………....93
3.4 Relevancy of Confession …………………………………………………………..100
3.5 Relevancy of Circumstantial Evidence……………………………………………..105
3.6 Relevancy of similar Occurrence…………………………………………………...107
3.7 Relevancy of Judicial decision……………………………………………………..110
3.8 Relevancy of character evidence…………………………………………………...114
3.9. Relevant but inadmissible facts……………………………………………………118
3.9.1 Admissibility: General………………………………………………………..118
3.9.2 Public policy and privilege…………………………………………… ……..120
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CHAPTER FOUR: ORAL EVIDENCE…………………………………………….126
4.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………126
4.2 Oral evidence: Definition…………………………………………………………...127
4.3 Importance of Oral Evidence ……………………………………………………128
4.4 Nature and Development of Oral Evidence in Different Legal Systems ………130
4 .4.1 The Traditional Ethiopian Oral Litigation……………………………………132
4.5 Competence of witnesses……………………………………………………...135
4.5.1 Grounds of incompetence………………………………………………………..135
4.5.1.1 Mental incapacity ………………………………………………………..136
4.5.1.2 Physical incapacity………………………………………………………137
4.5.1.3 Legal interdiction (Conviction of a crime)……………………………...138
4.5.1.4 Interest in the out come of the case as ground of incompetence……...138
4.6. Examination of witness ……………………………………………………………139
4.6.1 Examination-in-chief……………………………………………………………139
4.6.2 Cross examination ………………………………………………………………141
4.6.3 Re-examination …………………………………………………………………143
4.7 Hearsay evidence…………………………………………………………………...144
4.7.1 Definition of hearsay………………………………………………………….144
4.7.2 Justification for exclusion of hearsay statements …………………………….145
4.7.3 Exception to hearsay evidence ……………………………………………….147
4.8 Exclusionary rule: Privileges………………………………………………………151
4.8.1 Policies underlying privileges…………………………………………………151
4.8.2 Types of privileges……………………………………………………………..153
4.8.2.1 He right against self-incrimination…………………………………………154
4.8.2.2Governmental privileges……………………………………………………154
4.8.2.3 Professional confidential154……………………………………………….156
4.8.2.4 Other privileges… …………………………………………………………161
CHAPTER FIVE: REAL EVIDENCE………………………………………………164
5.1 Demonstrative evidence……………………………………………………………165
5.2. Documentary evidence…………………………………………………………….172
5.3 Authentication of Documentary Evidence …………………………………………173
5.3.1 Modes of authentication ………………………………………………………173
5.4. Best evidence rule………………………………………………………………..176
5.5 Proof of contents of documents…………………………………………………….177
CHAPTER SIX: BURDEN AND STANDARD OF PROOF………………………181
6.1 Meaning and concept of burden of proof……………………………………...……184
6.1.1 Burden of production………………………………………………………......185
6.1.2 Burden of persuasion ………………………………………………………...185
6.1.3 Burden of proof under the evidence law of Ethiopia………………………….187
6.1.4 Burden of proof in case of presumptions……………………………………..194
6.2 Standard of proof…………………………………………………………………...195
6.2.1 In civil cases…………………………………………………………………..196
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6.2.2 In criminal cases …………………………….. ……………………………..197
References………………………………………………………………………………204
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