Although the 2 examples I give here are not part of a criminal case, I believe they are great examples of circumstantial evidence. Circumstantial evidence, which can be derived from a variety of sources, can be used to lay a foundation of belief, and backed up by witness testimony and direct evidence for credibility. Whether or not the judge or jury makes the intended inference has a major impact on the outcome of the case. Mary did not see Robert stab the victim, so she can only testify and describe what she saw. The Jessica Lal Murder Case that triggered the entire nation is a glaring example of the Circumstantial evidence as to the sole instrument for conviction. Recently, Bob told a friend that he had seen Helen at his softball games, and once saw her following him at the mall. Frey approached police after learning Scott was married to the missing pregnant woman. While none of this is direct evidence of Fred’s culpability in the incident, the circumstantial evidence leads the judge to believe it is more likely than not that there was an accident, and that it was Fred’s fault. In a civil lawsuit, circumstantial evidence serves the same purpose, to lead the judge or jury to a desired conclusion. This circumstantial evidence is likely not enough by itself to convict Robert, so the prosecution provides other evidence which, when added to Mary’s testimony, leads the jury to the conclusion that Robert stabbed the victim. Common examples of circumstantial evidence are fingerprint evidence, DNA evidence, and blood evidence. Mark and Bob get into a heated argument, during which Mark declares in front of a room full of people, that he wanted to kill Bob. may be proven b y circumstantial evidence, if that eviden ce, while not directly establishing guilt, gives rise to an inference of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.3 Let me give you an example of the difference between direct evidence and circumstantial evidence. A lady bakes a blueberry pie and leaves it on the kitchen counter to cool. Circumstantial evidence is evidence of facts that the court can draw conclusions from. This type of evidence is, on its own, considered to be weak or ineffective, so it is used in conjunction with direct evidence in both criminal and civil cases. “I saw him stab that guy” is a direct evidence testimony, and does not relay on … Circumstantial evidence simply helps people draw inferences about a fact, or the events that took place. The trial of Scott Peterson for the murders of his wife Laci and their unborn child Conner is a classic example of prosecution based almost solely on circumstantial evidence. The evidence should prove the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. A classic example of circumstantial evidence would be testimony from a witness who arrived at a crime scene to find someone holding a smoking gun. The media closely followed the subsequent murder trial, in which there was virtually no direct evidence, but a long string of circumstantial evidence pointing to Scott Peterson’s guilt. On its own, circumstantial evidence allows for more than one explanation. By comparison, direct evidence does not require any inference. However, there may be another reason for the puddles to be on the ground. Proof of facts offered as evidence from which other facts may be inferred. Leo has filed a civil lawsuit against Fred, claiming that Fred backed into his car in a parking lot, causing substantial damage. The archetypal example given in early modern English texts is that of a person seen fleeing a dead man’s house holding a bloody sword. Circumstantial Evidence. Circumstantial evidence is extremely important as a tool for building a case. Circumstantial Evidence. Bob asked Helen to stop, but she only stopped talking to him at work. A and B ‘s evidence is direct evidence. For example, when you leave a building, and there are puddles outside on the ground, you may assume that is has rained recently. Circumstantial evidence is widely misunderstood, and many people cannot understand how a case can be advanced without primary evidence of wrongdoing. Circumstantial evidence may be collected at a crime scene. In Peacock v The King2 in 1911 Griffiths CJ relied upon the 1842 edition of Starkie on Evidence as authority explanatory of circumstantial evidence. Evidence comes in many forms, such as eyewitnesses, participants, prior statements made by the defendant, photos, videos, documents, physical evidence, and scientific evidence, such as DNA or fingerprints. The implication is that the person may have died from some type of weapon. Any given item of evidence may have alternative meanings. Circumstantial evidence is evidence that serves to establish the circumstances related to particular points or even other evidence; for example, circumstantial evidence might support claims made regarding other evidence or the accuracy of other evidence. A week later, Bob is found murdered in his back yard. Circumstantial evidence is often extremely powerful. In court, Fred admits to being in the parking lot at the same time as Leo, but denies he hit anything, and there were no other witnesses to the incident. For example, that a suspect is seen running away from a murder scene with a weapon in hand is circumstantial evidence he committed the murder. The prosecution must divulge to the criminal defense attorney all relevant discovery material well in advance, including the evidence they intend to bring against the defendant.