What is a material witness?

A material witness is a person who has information that is important to a criminal case and is called upon to testify in court. This type of witness may have crucial information that can help the prosecuting or defense team to prove or disprove a criminal charge. In some cases, a material witness may be under the protection of law enforcement due to the nature of the information that they possess or the potential danger they may face if their identity is revealed. Material witnesses can be subpoenaed to appear in court and can be held in contempt of court if they refuse to testify. The testimony provided by a material witness can play a significant role in the outcome of a criminal trial.