Chapter One Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Rationale of the Present Study 1.3 The Research Objective and Questions 1.4 Object of the Research 1.5 Layout of the Study Chapter Two Literature Review 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Studies on Language Interaction 2.3 Academic Studies on Witness Statements in the Law 2.4 Forensic Linguistic Studies on Language Evidence 2.5 Psychological Studies on Witness Testimony 2.6 Narrative Studies on Witness Statement 2.7 Summary Chapter Three Theoretical Framework 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Genre Structure of Witness Statements of Chinese Criminal Cases 3.3 Narrative Nature of Witness Statements of Chinese Criminal Cases 3.4 Categories of Empirical Factors According to Contextual Correlates 3.5 The Theoretical Framework 3.6 Methods and Procedures Chapter Four Structure and Nature of Witness Statements 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Structure and Nature of Witness Statements 4.3 Narrative Varieties in the Secondary Reality Core 4.4 Summary Chapter Five Factors and Their Effects on Witness Statements 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Involvement 5.3 Age 5.4 Question Type 5.5 Violence 5.6 Post-event Information 5.7 Exposure Time 5.8 Summarv Chapter Six Effects of Multi-factors on Witness Statements 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Age and Question Type 6.3 Involvement and Violence 6.4 Violence and Exposure Time 6.5 Post-event Information and Involvement 6.6 Question Type and Post-event Information 6.7 Summary Chapter Seven Conclusion 7.1 Summary of the Present Study 7.2 Major Findings 7.3 Conclusions 7.4 Implications 7.5 Limitations 7.6 Suggestions for Further Research Appendix Appendix 1 Participant Analysis of the Suspect's Statement Appendix 2 Participant Analysis of the Female Victim's Statement Appendix 3 Participant Analysis of the Male Victim's Statement Appendix 4 Participant Analysis of By-stander Witness' Statement Appendix 5 Active Causal Agent Analysis in Suspect A's Statement Appendix 6 Active Causal Agent Analysis in Suspect B's Statement Appendix 7 Case-irrelevant Information in Different Violence Degrees Appendix 8 Suspect's Expressions Concerning Violence Appendix 9 General Categories of Suspects' Language Strategies Appendix 10 Victims' Expressions Concerning Violence Appendix 11 By-stander Witnesses' Expressions Concerning Violence Bibliography