What is Res Gestae?
Res gestae is a term originating from Latin, which signifies 'things done.' In the legal field, particularly in criminology, it is used to describe actions or statements that are a part of the events surrounding a crime or incident and are admissible in court as evidence.
Res gestae evidence is believed to be a part of the 'present sense impression' exception to the hearsay rule, meaning that statements made or actions taken at or near the time of the event in question are deemed more trustworthy than statements made later, and thus admissible as evidence in court.
For instance, if a victim immediately says 'he just robbed me' after the robbery, that statement may be considered res gestae evidence and admissible in court.
Likewise, if a bystander sees a crime and instantly calls 911 to report it, that call may be considered res gestae evidence and admissible in court.
Res gestae evidence is often effective in criminal cases as it provides a contemporaneous account of events that is frequently deemed more dependable than statements made later.
Nonetheless, courts must be cautious to ensure that such evidence does not unfairly prejudice the defendant and that it fulfills other admissibility requirements.
