What is the difference between a direct and circumstantial evidence in criminal defense law?

In criminal defense law, the two main types of evidence are direct and circumstantial evidence. Direct evidence is evidence that directly proves a fact and does not require any inferences to be made. This evidence is provided through testimony, such as from an eyewitness, that the accused committed the crime or by physical evidence like a weapon or an object that links the accused to the crime. On the other hand, circumstantial evidence is evidence that requires an inference to be made. This type of evidence does not directly prove a fact but instead points to a conclusion. This could include things like a witness seeing someone looking suspiciously around the scene of the crime or someone associating with people of questionable character. In a criminal case in Florida, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the crime. Because direct evidence is more reliable and concrete, the court will generally give more weight to it than circumstantial evidence. This means that circumstantial evidence must be strong enough to outweigh any doubts created by the lack of direct evidence.

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What is the difference between a direct and circumstantial evidence in criminal defense law?

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