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

In the state of Mississippi, criminal defense law relies on evidence to prove a case in court. There are two main types of evidence that can be used in criminal cases, direct and circumstantial. Direct evidence is evidence that directly proves an element of the crime. It is direct in the sense that it proves the facts of the case without any inference or conjecture being required. This type of evidence can be something like an eyewitness testimony or a security camera footage. Circumstantial evidence is evidence that is indirect and requires an inference to be drawn from the facts. It does not directly prove an element of the crime, but might suggest that the accused was involved in the crime in some way. For example, if an accused was found in possession of the weapon used in the crime, that would be circumstantial evidence, because it does not prove that they actually committed the crime. Both direct and circumstantial evidence are important in criminal defense law, and both can be used to support a claim of innocence or guilt. In the state of Mississippi, the jury is instructed to evaluate both direct and circumstantial evidence when determining whether the accused is guilty or not.

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