CREDIBILITY AND OTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL-PROBL EMS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUNG-CHILDREN AS EYEWITNESSES TO VIOLENT CRIMES - A CASE-STUDY

Credibility and other psychological problems associated with young chi ldren as eyewitness to violent crimes: A case study. A pair of 3 1/2-y ear-old twins who had possibly witnessed their mother's murder were ex amined by a child psychiatrist and a child psychologist as part of a j udicial inquiry. The procedure developed specifically for this purpose , the actual course of the investigation and the evaluation of the fin dings with regard to psychological aspects of evidence are discussed. The theoretical part of the study deals with the current state of know ledge and the problems relating to evidence given by young children as witnesses. The main emphasis is on general and specific credibility, identification of people associated with the crime, suggestibility and probabilities related to guessing, perceptual and memory performance, and minimization of emotional sequelae in children who are witnesses to violent crimes. The authors conclude that preschool children can be reliable witnesses in preliminary hearings and court proceedings.