How do out-of-order time references affect testimonies?

Out-of-order time references primarily indicate confusion regarding the sequence of events that occurred in a given situation. When a witness presents a narrative where the timeline does not flow logically or events are presented in an illogical order, it often raises concerns about their overall reliability. This inconsistency can suggest that the witness may not fully grasp the details of what happened or might be fabricating or misremembering aspects of the incident.

Confusion in testimonies can undermine the credibility of the witness, as it brings into question their ability to accurately recall and describe the details of the events in question. Therefore, recognizing out-of-order time references can be a crucial factor in evaluating the trustworthiness of a witness's statement. In contrast, the other options—such as adding credibility or showing attention to detail—are not accurate descriptions of what out-of-order references typically convey.