Dunn v Aslet

Facts

A witness denied that he had quarrelled with the party against whom he was giving evidence. The other side offered evidence of the quarrel.

Issue

Is a quarrel collateral, so that the answer is final?

Held

No. The evidence was allowed. Hostility towards a party is bias, and bias may be proved.

Principle

A matter that shows the witness cannot be impartial goes to more than credit in the narrow sense. It may be contradicted.

Why it matters

It belongs with Thomas v David.

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