From the first episode of _Death Note_ :

> それが人質の証言では

**Question:** I'm familiar with ではない, but don't understand what では alone means
here?
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2022-11-01T22:40:27.707
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2022-11-02T13:37:39.907
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copula
Understanding 「それが人質の証言では」
The context is

> では / 追い詰められての / 自殺という事 / でしょうか?
>
> それが人質の証言では / 「犯人は突然倒れた」と

(/ indicates the break in the bubble.)

それが here means something like _but_ ; here _actually_ would fit better. では is
で＋は, literally meaning _in, by (the words of the hostages)_. So the whole line
means _Actually, according to the hostages, (they say) "the criminal suddenly
fell"_.
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2022-11-02T13:37:39.907
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2022-11-02T13:37:39.907
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