What is the difference between direct and circumstantial evidence?

The difference between direct and circumstantial evidence is important to understand in the criminal justice system of Maryland. Direct evidence is evidence that directly proves a fact in a criminal case such as a confession or an eyewitness testimony. This type of evidence is considered the strongest type of evidence as it proves something without the need for additional evidence. Circumstantial evidence is evidence that suggests the truth of a fact but doesn’t directly prove it, such as a piece of evidence that links a person to the crime. Circumstantial evidence is weaker than direct evidence as it requires an inference or conclusion based on the evidence. An example of circumstantial evidence would be a surveillance video of a person buying a weapon before a crime was committed. In Maryland, both direct and circumstantial evidence are accepted in court cases, with direct evidence being given more weight. However, circumstantial evidence can be used to support a case and is given enough weight to convict someone in criminal proceedings.

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