ABSTRACT
Additional eyewitness experiments by Loftus and Palmer (1974) were equally compelling, and also led these psychologists to conclude that eyewitness testimony is highly unreliable. Repetitive research studies — over 2000 by 1995 (Cutler and Penrod, 1995) — again demonstrated the unreliability of eyewitness testimony. These are important findings considering that courts rely heavily on eyewitness identification. If an eyewitness to a crime testifies that he or she saw the defendant commit the act, the chances of conviction are extremely high, despite the presentation of a credible alibi.
