Which of the following is NOT a basis for intrinsic impeachment?

Intrinsic impeachment refers to methods of challenging a witness's credibility based on issues that relate directly to the witness's character or the content of their testimony, without introducing extrinsic evidence.

Choosing sympathy as the answer indicates an understanding that sympathy does not relate directly to verifiable credibility issues, unlike the other options. Sympathy may affect a jury's perception of a witness but it does not serve as a basis for impeaching their testimony or character in a way that can be objectively measured or supported by factual evidence.

Contradiction, convictions, and prior inconsistent statements are all established foundations for intrinsic impeachment. Contradiction involves directly challenging the witness’s testimony based on prior statements or evidence, while convictions refer to past criminal convictions that can affect a witness's reliability. Prior inconsistent statements bring into doubt the credibility of the witness by pointing out discrepancies in their accounts. All these bases provide concrete grounds for questioning the perceived trustworthiness of a witness, contrasting with the more subjective nature of sympathy.