英美证据关联性之内涵与性质的再界定

Re-thinking of the Conception and Nature of Relevancy in Anglo-American Legal System

关联性是证据法领域的基础性概念,对此国内外学者分别提出了不同的观点。对于关联性内涵的把握,关键不在于定义性的语言表述,而在于对其所蕴含之根本特征与内在价值的理解。关联性是存在于证据和待证事实之间的相对性概念,是形式意义和实质意义两方面含义的整合。"法律上的关联性"所承载的价值功能,完全可以通过完善相应的可采性规则而实现;证据能力和证明力这两个概念本身存在着内容上相互对应以及程度上逐渐递进的关系,而此种递进关系在关联性方面表现得尤为明显。就证据内涵而言,关联性为其根本,但不宜冠以"属性"之名。证据能力、可采性及证明力是三个相互关联又有区别的概念,对于具备可采性的证据,其证明力一般随着关联性的增强而增大,此一过程系通过逻辑推理和经验法则的共同作用而实现。

As a foundational role in the field of evidence law, Relevancy has initiated various opinions among scholars all over the world. This paper establishes revelancy＇s suhstantive characteristics and intrinsic value rather than its surficial definition as a matter of priority and puts forward ideas as follows： Revelancy, which consists of both formal and substantial meaning, plays a relative role between evidence material and the facts to be proved. The goal for ＂legal relevance＂ can be achieved by the rules of admissibility. There is progressive relation btween ＂competency of evidence＂ and ＂probative force＂, which appears more distinctly in the field of revelancy. As for the connotation of evidence, revelancy is the prime and essential factor. ＂Competency of evidence＂, ＂admissibility ＂ and ＂probative force＂ are three different concepts. The probative force of evidence that fit the admissibility＇s requirements increases along with the level of revelancy, which is a kind of process by means of both logical reasoning and the rule of thumb.