Testigos Incompetentes y su Capacidad para Testificar

Explicación Simple

Hay personas que no pueden ser testigos en un juicio por diferentes razones. Pero si alguien decide testificar a pesar de que no debería, puede hacerlo si no le beneficia.

Es como si un jugador de fútbol no pudiera jugar porque está lesionado, pero si decide jugar aunque le duela, puede hacerlo si se quita la venda.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan y María están en un juicio por un accidente de tráfico. María, que es esposa de Juan, no puede testificar en su contra. Sin embargo, si decide renunciar a su derecho de no testificar, puede hacerlo y se convierte en un testigo válido para ambos lados.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

42 Pa.C.S. 5931 - Incompetent Witnesses No person who is incompetent under section 5922 (relating to disqualification by perjury), section 5923 (relating to confidential communications between spouses), section 5924 (relating to spouses as witnesses against each other) and section 5928 (relating to confidential communications to attorney) shall become competent by the general language of section 5930 (relating to surviving party as witness, in case of death, mental incapacity, etc.). 42 Pa.C.S. 5932 - Witness Competent To Testify Against Interest; To Become Competent Upon Release Of Interest Any person who is incompetent under section 5930 (relating to surviving party as witness, in case of death, mental incapacity, etc.) by reason of interest may nevertheless be called to testify against his own interest, and in that event he shall become a fully competent witness for either party. Such person shall also become fully competent for either party by filing of record a release or extinguishment of his interest.