types of evidence used in a court case
There are several types of evidence that may be used in a court setting. Evidence can be direct or circumstantial. Direct evidence is the items in a court case that can be seen or certain types of eyewitness testimony. Circumstantial evidence is usually a series of events or characterization that implies guilt. All the facts that are collected for a court case are tied together to help a judge or jury make a decision to convict or not to convict someone on trial.
Exculpatory Evidence: Typically used in criminal cases, this type of evidence is that which favors the defendant, either partially or totally removing their guilt in the case. In the United States, if the prosecutor or police have found evidence, it is their duty to disclose it to the defendant.
Real Evidence: This form of evidence is any object or matter relevant to the case in question. Real evidence is typically an object that is directly involved in some aspect of the case. To be deemed admissible, real evidenceâsimilar to the other forms of evidenceâmust be material, competent and relevant.
Relevant evidence, therefore, is evidence that is logically connected to the fact it is intended to establish (Blackwell, 2004). Other forms of the word, such as relevance and relevancy, are often used interchangeably to refer to evidence that is to be considered for admission in a case.