What is meant by hearsay in legal terms?

Hearsay refers to statements that are not made by a witness while testifying in court, but are rather reports of what someone else has said. In legal terms, hearsay is typically defined as an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement.

Thus, the choice which indicates that the officer does not have firsthand knowledge directly aligns with the definition of hearsay. This is because hearsay involves relying on the credibility of a third party rather than the direct observation or experience of the person recounting the information. Evidence based on hearsay is generally not admissible in court, as it raises issues regarding the reliability and credibility of the statements being introduced.

Other options do not accurately capture the essence of hearsay. Information that is directly observed would instead be considered direct evidence and is typically admissible in court. Confidential communication between lawyers and clients pertains to attorney-client privilege, which is a different legal concept. Statements made in front of witnesses during a trial relate to testimonies and are normally considered admissible evidence, as they are made in the course of legal proceedings rather than being out-of-court statements.