h3rmit @ h3rmit @lemmy.dbzer0.com Posts 0Comments 2Joined 3 days ago
As long as the testimony is not from one of the involved parties, yes, eyewitness is evidence. The lowest tier of evidence, mind you, since it has been proven quite unreliable, even with cross-examinstion and the likes (sorry if it's not the word, not a native English speaker).
But yeah, if it's not the accusing party, or any party with interests in the matter, and it is proven there is no coercion or personal interest, it should count as evidence.
Yeah, and inoccent until proven guilty. We should not believe absolutely anyone, regardless of gender, making any accusation.
Every accusation should be thoroughly investigated, though.
It happened with Neil Gaiman recently. Many accusations, no sentence for him (at least as of yet), he denies the claims.
Yet, massive lost to reputation, projects cancelled, etc.
If he's found guilty, all the shame and consecuences to him, but society should stop acting like people talking or a "hyper graphical article" makes things true.
We live in the age of quick opinions, echo chambers, and the like.