The impact of time on the accuracy of eyewitness memory
Eyewitness testimony is a statement given by people after they witness an occurrence (McLeod, 1970), and is often used in court cases to identify a suspect, or to recount information experienced during an event. This testimony is vital as it may turn a verdict in a court case: it may be one of the strongest pieces of evidence to support an explanation of the event, and this recount is still used as a reliable source of the witness’ memory of the occurrence. Hugo Münsterberg first recognised the unreliability of eyewitness testimony and noted that a witness is expected to recall…