(1) An independent person who sits with a child being questioned by police when their parent or guardian cannot be present. The independent witness ensures that the child is treated with care and understands what is happening. (2) In any legal proceeding, a person who can give evidence of matters before the court but has no particular interest in the outcome. (3) A person who has no interest in the contents of a document such as a will, but watches it being signed, and puts their own name on it as evidence that they saw the signing occur. Compare interested witness.