Eyewitness ★★½ The Janitor 1981 (R)

When a murder occurs in the office building of a star-struck janitor, he fabricates a tale in order to initiate a relationship with the TV reporter covering the story. Unfortunately the killers think he's telling the truth, which plunges the janitor and reporter into a dangerous and complicated position, pursued by both police and foreign agents. Somewhat contrived, but Hurt and Weaver are always interesting. Woods turns in a wonderful performance as Hurt's somewhat-psychotic best friend. 102m/C VHS, DVD . William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Christopher Plummer, James Woods, Kenneth McMillan, Pamela Reed, Irene Worth, Steven Hill, Morgan Freeman; D: Peter Yates; W: Steve Tesich.

EYEWITNESS

An individual who was present during an event and is called by a party in a lawsuit to testify as to what he or she observed.

The state and federal rules of evidence, which govern the admissibility of evidence in civil actions and criminal proceedings, impose requirements that must be met before the testimony of an eyewitness can be presented during trial. For example, an eyewitness must be competent (legally fit) and qualified to testify in court. A witness who was intoxicated or insane at the time the controverted event occurred will be prevented from testifying, regardless of whether he or she was the only eyewitness to the occurrence.

eye·wit·ness / ˈīˈwitnəs/ • n. [often as adj.] a person who has personally seen something happen and so can give a first-hand description of it: eyewitness accounts of the London blitz.