Negative Commandment 288 (Digest)
Punishing a Defendant Based on the Testimony of a Single Witness
"One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity or for any sin"—Deuteronomy 19:15.
It is forbidden for the courts to execute punishments or expropriate money based on the testimony provided by a single witness—even if that witness is completely trustworthy.
Though courts cannot punish or expropriate money based on the testimony of one witness, they can obligate the defendant to declare his innocence under oath based on such testimony.
Unabridged English Text of this Mitzvah »
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> The 288th prohibition is that we are forbidden from inflicting punishment or taking money from someone on the testimony of a single witness, even if he is perfectly acceptable.
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> The source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement;) (exalted be He), "One witness must not testify against a person to inflict any punishment or penalty." Our Sages explained,;) "He must not testify "to inflict any punishment or penalty; but he may testify to require an oath.";)
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> The details of this mitzvah are explained in various passages in tractates Yevamos, Kesuvos, Sotah, Gittin, Kiddushin, and a number of places in Seder Nezikin.
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> Footnotes
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> 1.
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> Deut. 19:15.
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> 2.
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> Sifri, Parshas Shoftim; Kesuvos 87b.
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> 3.
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> If even one witness testifies that a person owes money, for example, he cannot be forced to pay. However, he is forced to swear in order to deny the witness' testimony.