Why is it crucial to maintain separation among witnesses during an investigation?

Maintaining separation among witnesses during an investigation is essential primarily to prevent influence on each other’s memory. When witnesses are grouped together, there is a risk that they may discuss the event or share their interpretations, which can lead to contamination of their individual memories. This shared conversation can alter their recollections, causing them to inadvertently align their accounts with one another rather than providing independent testimonies.

Accurate testimony is crucial in investigations, as discrepancies or similarities induced by discussion can compromise the integrity of the evidence gathered. Therefore, separating witnesses helps ensure that each person's statement is unaffected by the accounts of others, leading to a more reliable and objective understanding of the event in question.

In contrast, efficient questioning, quicker answers, and keeping witnesses calm, while important practical considerations in an investigation, do not address the fundamental need for preserving the integrity of each witness's memory, which is critical for the success of the inquiry.