When can a witness be impeached for their accuracy?

A witness can be impeached for their accuracy at any point during their testimony. Impeachment refers to the process of challenging the credibility of a witness, and this can occur not just during direct examination but also during cross-examination. The purpose of impeachment is to highlight potential biases, inconsistencies, or inaccuracies in a witness's statements that may affect their reliability as a source of information.

This flexibility in impeachment is important because it allows attorneys to address any issues with the witness's credibility as they arise throughout the proceedings. For example, if a witness provides conflicting information during cross-examination, the opposing party can raise those inconsistencies immediately rather than waiting for a specific moment in the testimony, which helps to maintain the flow of the trial and ensure that the jury has all relevant information about the witness's reliability.

Other options may impose unnecessary limitations on when impeachment can take place, which does not align with the standard practice in legal proceedings. Thus, the correct understanding acknowledges that impeachment is an ongoing process that can be utilized whenever inconsistencies or credibility issues emerge during a witness's testimony.