past tense or present tense?

[Winwin2011]

Here's a moive thread as follows:-

A man and a woman are walking along the street. An old man has stared at the woman. When the od man has gone, the man asks the woman "'you knew him?'.

Why does the man use the past tense of 'know; i.e knew? Can we use 'know in the above context?

Thank you for you help.

[Raymott]

Here's a moive thread as follows:-

A man and a woman are walking along the street. An old man has stared at the woman. When the od man has gone, the man asks the woman "'you knew him?'.

Why does the man use the past tense of 'know; i.e knew? Can we use 'know in the above context?

Thank you for you help.

In the scenario you've given (as you've given it), "You know him?" is by far the most likely choice. So there must be some other reason why "knew" is used.