a witness the Defendant

Question

"I askthat the court instruct Ms. Loretta Charles, a witness the Defendant intends tohave testify later on today, to leave the courtroomimmediately."

What does it mean by "a witness the Defendant?" Does it mean Ms. Loretta Clarles play two roles as the witness and a defendant both? Does it mean Ms. Loretta Chrales is Defendant's witness?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I ask that the court instruct Ms. Loretta Charles, a witness [that] the Defendant intends to have testify later on today, to leave the courtroom immediately.

If we split this into two sentences:

I ask that the court instruct Ms. Loretta Charles to leave the courtroom immediately.
Ms. Loretta Charles is a witness [that] the Defendant intends to have testify later on today,

So, the parenthetical sentence means that:

Ms Loretta Charles is a witness
The Defendent wants Ms. Charles to testify later the same day.

Hoa Thai · Answer

Armsys"I ask that the court instruct Ms. Loretta Charles, a witness (whom) the Defendant intends to have testify later on today, to leave the courtroom immediately."

What does it mean by "a witness the Defendant?" Does it mean Ms. Loretta Clarles play two roles as the witness and a defendant both? Does it mean Ms. Loretta Chrales is Defendant's witness?

Dear Armys,

The red insert, 'whom' is optional and left out.

Ms. Loretta is a witness; and the Defendant (a different person) wants to have her testify later on.

We can assume Loretta is the Defendant’s witness. However, if the Defendant could call the Prosecutor’s witness in the court system that you addressed, then your sentence does not give enough clues.

Best,
Hoa Thai

Armsys · Answer

AnonymousI ask that the court instruct Ms. Loretta Charles, a witness [that] the Defendant intends to have testify later on today, to leave the courtroom immediately.
If we split this into two sentences:
I ask that the court instruct Ms. Loretta Charles to leave the courtroom immediately.
Ms. Loretta Charles is a witness [that] the Defendant intends to have testify later on today,
So, the parenthetical sentence means that:

Ms Loretta Charles is a witness
The Defendent wants Ms. Charles to testify later the same day.

Actually I extract the sentence directly from a NOLO book. First, I find it grammatically incorrect, see "intends to have testify..." Second, the sentence is quite ambituous.
The speaker seems to request the judge to order Ms. Loretta Charles to leave the courtroom at once.
If you google "a witness the defendant", you'll find that it occurs frequently.
Given the reputation of NOLO, people won't doubt their English competency.

Marius Hancu · Answer

That/who/whom are optional in that situation. Get used to it.

Yankee · Answer

Armsys
AnonymousI ask that the court instruct Ms. Loretta Charles, a witness [that] the Defendant intends to have testify later on today, to leave the courtroom immediately.
If we split this into two sentences:
I ask that the court instruct Ms. Loretta Charles to leave the courtroom immediately.
Ms. Loretta Charles is a witness [that] the Defendant intends to have testify later on today,
So, the parenthetical sentence means that:

Ms Loretta Charles is a witness
The Defendent wants Ms. Charles to testify later the same day.

Actually I extract the sentence directly from a NOLO book. First, I find it grammatically incorrect, see "intends to have testify..."The Defendant intends to have Ms. Loretta Charles testify later on today"
Second, the sentence is quite ambituous. I don't find the sentence ambiguous at all.
The speaker seems to request the judge to order Ms. Loretta Charles to leave the courtroom at once. That is exactly what the speaker requests.
If you google "a witness the defendant", you'll find that it occurs frequently.
Given the reputation of NOLO, people won't doubt their English competency.

Armsys · Answer

Hi Yankee,

Your explanation makes a lot of sense. Thanks a lot.
Following your view, may I infer that the speaker could be a plaintiff?

BarbaraPA · Answer

It could be the lawyer for either the plaintiff or the defendent, but I assume the plaintiff. He or she is afraid the witness will hear something that will affect the way she will testify later.

a witness the Defendant

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