Section 137

The credit of a witness may be impeached in the following ways by the adverse party or, with the consent of the Court, by the party who calls him

{a)

by the evidence of persons who testify that they from their knowledge of the witness believe him to be unworthy of credit;

{b) by the proof that the witness has been bribed, or has accepted the offer of a bribe, or has received any other corrupt inducement to give his evidence;

{c)

by proof of former statements inconsistent with any part of his evidence which is liable to be contradicted.

Explanation -

A witness declaring another witness to be unworthy of credit may not, upon his examination-in-chief, give reasons for his belief, but he may be asked his reasons in cross-examination, and the answers which he gives cannot be contradicted, though, if they are false, he may afterwards be charged with giving false evidence.

Illustrations

{a)

A sues B for the price of goods sold and delivered to B.

C says that he delivered the goods to B.

Evidence is offered to show that on a previous occasion he said that he had not delivered the goods to B.

The evidence is admissible.

{b)

A is indicted for the murder of B.

C says that B, when in marad al maut declared that A had caused the wound of which B died.

Evidence is offered to show that on a previous occasion C said that the wound was not caused by A or in his presence.

The evidence is admissible.

Questions tending to corroborate evidence or relevant fact admissible.