What are the benefits or advantages of treating your witnesses/client as hostiles during trial? What does it actually mean?
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From Google-
A hostile witness is a witness who appears to be refusing to fully testify in support of the person who called them or testifies in a way that significantly differs from their pre-trial statement.
The person who calls you as a witness expects you to provide the court with evidence similar to what you may have said in a pre-trial statement. If you refuse to answer questions or contradict what you said before, the person who called you can apply to the judge to have you declared a hostile witness.
A hostile witness can have their credibility called into question and can be cross-examined and asked leading questions by the person who called them. The person who called you may also use the process in an attempt to persuade you to give evidence that agrees with your previous statement.
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