Most people got a majority of their "facts" wrong, and even the very best witness offered a picture that was 25 per cent fiction.
From the Government's perspective, the two witnesses could offer valuable corroboration.
Instead, the witnesses generally offer their facts and opinions selectively.
But when testimony began this week, witnesses offered all the complexity of the world outside the courthouse.
The police and witnesses have offered sharply different accounts of the incident.
Or maybe his witnesses would offer some means of negotiating her release if their sympathies had a price.
Tuesday's witnesses did not offer anything similar to that remark.
But neither the police nor witnesses could offer a clue about the killer's motive, if he had one.
The dozen or so witnesses who testified Wednesday also offered a variety of personal observations.
But at least two witnesses offered another account, which one top city official said was being investigated.