Testimony is Evidence

[Amarok]

I agree. Words are not capable of conveying truth value simply because they were asserted. So the witness's character, cognitive ability, subject knowledge, experiences, and track record plus the context of the event provide tangible and necessary inputs in determining the weight of testimonial evidence toward a conclusion. It is the inseparable package of these things together that form "evidence".

And the fact (read: well-supported by a robust body of evidence, including scientific evidence) is that a person can have upstanding character, sharp cognitive abilities, a plethora of knowledge and experience in the subject, and a phenomenal track record, and yet...still be wrong about what they are recalling.

Such is the irrefutable unreliability of witness testimony, no matter how badly you guys want to muddle and over-complicate the matter.

Not to mention some can be 2 of these things but not the third and there are other factors not in the listed 3