define exculpatory evidence
What is exculpatory evidence? In a criminal trial, âexculpatory evidenceâ is evidence that indicates the defendant did not commit the crime he has been accused of. Its opposite is âinculpatory evidence,â which is evidence that indicates the defendant did commit the crime. (Evidence that is neither exculpatory nor inculpatory is likely to be excluded from court as irrelevant, because it doesnât support either sideâs arguments.) Trials.