What are the basic requirements for a person to be considered a competent witness?

A person is considered a competent witness when they meet essential criteria, which include having personal knowledge of the matter they are testifying about and the ability to narrate that knowledge accurately. Personal knowledge means that the witness must have firsthand information obtained through their own senses, whether by seeing, hearing, or experiencing the event in question. This ensures that the testimony is based on actual experience rather than hearsay or speculation.

Additionally, the ability to narrate accurately is crucial, as it demonstrates that the witness can communicate their observations clearly and truthfully. This connects directly to the jurors’ and judges’ ability to assess the credibility and relevance of the testimony. The presence of these two factors—personal knowledge and the capacity to convey that knowledge effectively—establishes a foundation for the reliability of the witness's testimony in a legal setting.

The other options do not encompass the full definition of competency for a witness: general knowledge and loyalty are not sufficient for testimony; perceiving testimonies does not reflect the personal knowledge required; and prior witness experience is irrelevant if the individual cannot accurately recount their personal observations.