ADJ
- eye (also eyewitness)
- An eyewitness account described the plane as a 'fireball'
- crucial, key, material, vital
- As the last person to see her alive, he was a material witness in the case
- independent
- credible, reliable, unimpeachable
- unreliable
VERB + WITNESS
- appeal for
- The police are appealing for witnesses
- trace
- Police have so far failed to trace any witnesses to the attack
WITNESS + VERB
- come forward
- Two witnesses came forward with evidence
ADJ
- chief, main, principal
- the defence's chief witness
- hostile
- reluctant, unwilling
- defence
- prosecution, state
- expert
- character
- civilian, police
VERB + WITNESS
- call
- The defence called their first witness
- appear as
- She appeared as a character witness
- swear in
- cross-examine, examine, interrogate, interview, question
- hear
- discredit
- intimidate, threaten
- A judicial enquiry was ordered, but witnesses were threatened and none would testify
- suborn
- He was charged with conspiracy to suborn witnesses
WITNESS + VERB
- take the stand
- The next witness took the stand
- give evidence, testify
- make a statement, state sth
- identify sb
- She was the only witness to identify Peters as the attacker
PHRASES
- a witness for the defence/prosecution
PREP
- ~ to
- Would you be willing to act as a witness to my signature when I sign my will?