Sanhedrin 5:1-2

Sanhedrin 5:1

They used to examine witnesses on seven points: In which Sabbatical cycle the crime allegedly occurred, in which year of the cycle, in which month of the year, on which date of the month, on what day of the week, in which hour of the day and in what geographic location.  Rabbi Yosi says they would ask the day of the week, the hour, the location, if the witnesses knew the victim, and if they warned the accused. If someone was accused of idolatry, they also asked which idol the accused allegedly worshiped and in what manner.

Sanhedrin 5:2

Increasing the examination of witnesses is considered praiseworthy. Ben Zakkai once examined witnesses regarding the stalks of figs (the crime allegedly occurred under a fig tree). The difference between investigations (chakiros) and examinations (bedikos) is that if a witness says “I don’t know” in an investigation, his testimony is discarded but if one or even both witnesses say “I don’t know” in an examination, their testimony stands. In both investigations and examinations, if the witnesses contradict one another, their testimony is discarded.