Ms. Ferguson who is practically blind has testified that she saw the defendant stab the victim in the twilight shawdows a 100 yards from the incident. Therefore members of the jury you must find the defendant guilty.
The fallacy in this statement is called the fallacy of appeal to authority or false authority. The argument is flawed because it relies on the testimony of Ms. Ferguson, who is described as "practically blind," making it highly unreliable. Ms. Ferguson's impairment would cast doubt on her ability to accurately see and identify the events in question. Therefore, basing the conclusion solely on her testimony is irrational. To make a fair judgment, the jury should consider all the available evidence, including the credibility of the witnesses, the physical evidence, and any other relevant factors.
