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

In criminal defense law, direct evidence and circumstantial evidence are two types of evidence used in court. They are different in that direct evidence is evidence that proves a fact without any inference or speculation, while circumstantial evidence is evidence that requires one to draw an inference in order to reach a conclusion of a fact. Direct evidence is a form of evidence that can directly prove or disprove a fact. This includes eyewitness statements, video or audio recordings, and laboratory testing. This type of evidence is considered to be more reliable as it does not rely on an inference being drawn to reach a conclusion. Circumstantial evidence is any evidence that requires an inference to draw a conclusion. For example, if an eyewitness sees a person wearing a certain coat near a crime scene, that may be circumstantial evidence that the person had something to do with the crime. Other common forms of circumstantial evidence include traces of a person’s DNA at the scene of a crime, and the motive of a person for committing a crime. In criminal defense law, both direct and circumstantial evidence can be used as evidence in court. Ultimately, the court will weigh both types of evidence in deciding a case. However, circumstantial evidence is often seen as less reliable than direct evidence, as it can be misinterpreted or exaggerated.

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