evidence, hearsay The oral or written statements of one who is not called as a witness which are narrated to the court by a witness or through a document, for the purpose of establishing the truth of what was asserted. Such evidence is generally inadmissible. Exceptions to the rule include: statutory exceptions; declarations of deceased persons (in very restricted circumstances); evidence given in former trials; depositions by witnesses; informal admissions and confessions. First-hand hearsay evidence is made admissible in civil proceedings by the Evidence Act