Regarding dying declarations, which statement is correct?

• A. They must be sworn statements to be admissible.
• B. They may be admissible as evidence in court under certain conditions.
• C. They require corroboration in all jurisdictions.
• D. They are never relevant to arson cases.

Answer: (B)

Dying declarations are a hearsay exception: a statement made by someone who believes they are about to die, describing the cause or circumstances of that death, and offered when the declarant is unavailable to testify. They may be admitted in court under a specific set of conditions, rather than automatically. They do not have to be sworn statements, and whether corroboration is required varies by jurisdiction. They can be relevant to cases involving arson if the death resulted from the fire and the statement concerns who caused it. The other options misstate these points: sworn testimony isn’t required, corroboration isn’t universally mandated, and dying declarations can apply in arson-related deaths.