What defines a lay witness in a legal context?

In a legal context, a lay witness is defined as someone who provides testimony based solely on their personal knowledge and observations without the support of expert qualifications. This means the witness is expected to recount facts and experiences directly related to the case at hand. Therefore, a lay witness can describe events they witnessed, characters they know, or relevant actions they have taken part in, but they do not interpret or offer expert opinions on those observations.

Academically, the testimony given by a lay witness is typically rooted in facts rather than analyses or interpretations, which distinguishes them from expert witnesses who leverage specialized knowledge or experience to provide insights about complex matters. The core function of a lay witness is to help the court understand what happened based on their firsthand experiences, bringing clarity to the proceedings through factual recounting.