KEY POINT FILMING The goal of a preliminary field interview is not to get a full, detailed statement but to collect reliable information that is complete enough to provide professional investigators with solid leads, in a manner that is effective and ethical. If the interview provides leads and helps an investigator determine whom to complete comprehensive interviews with and what to ask during those interviews, then you have been successful. Types of Witnesses There are typically three categories of witnesses that can provide preliminary information at the scene of the incident or shortly thereafter: bystanders, victims, and persons who know or have knowledge of the victims. In traditional human rights investigations, these individuals are considered key witnesses because they have invaluable information about the violations committed. Key witnesses can provide details of the crime (such as how many perpetrators there were, what type of weapons were used, what time the events happened, how many victims there were, and the extent of property damage). However, they may not be able to provide the information required to demonstrate the involvement of those who bear the most responsibility for the crime. Legal teams often need to rely on linkage evidence or notice evidence to prove who ordered the attacks or allowed them to happen. There are three additional categories of witnesses you should be aware of: insiders (also known as whistleblowers), suspects, and experts. As a frontline documenter, it’s unlikely that you will conduct preliminary interviews with anyone from these three categories; however, during prolonged massatrocity situations, there are times when activists will find themselves in a face-to-face conversation with these individuals. Specific guidance on how to interview insiders, suspects, and experts is beyond the scope of this section, but if you do find yourself in this situation, the principles included here apply. FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about crime-based and linkage evidence, see “Anatomy of a Crime” and “Proving Responsibility: Filming Linkage and Notice Evidence” at vae.witness.org. 141 VIDEO AS EVIDENCE: FILMING PRELIMINARY INTERVIEWS V 1.0