(a) The court shall determine from an examination of the information and its attachments, and in light of any evidence presented at a hearing on a motion to dismiss the information, whether the information and its attachments establish the existence of probable cause to believe that the offense charged has been committed and that the defendant committed the offense charged.

Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 806-88

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) A finding of the existence of probable cause or lack thereof may be based in whole or in part upon hearsay evidence or on evidence that may ultimately be ruled to be inadmissible at the trial.