View source for Direct evidence

{{Short description|Evidence that supports an assertion directly, without intervening inference}}
{{Distinguish|Incontrovertible evidence}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Evidence law}}

In [[law]], a [[Evidence (law)|body of facts]] that directly supports the truth of an assertion without intervening inference. It is often exemplified by [[eyewitness testimony]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=February 2022 |title=direct evidence |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/direct_evidence |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=[[Legal Information Institute]] |language=en |via=[[Cornell Law School]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Law |first1=Jonathan |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199551248.001.0001/acref-9780199551248-e-1136?rskey=qxBxUJ&result=1202 |title=A Dictionary of Law |last2=Martin |first2=Elizabeth A. |chapter=Direct evidence |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2014 |orig-date=2009 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> which consists of a [[witness]]'s description of their reputed direct sensory experience of an alleged act without the presentation of additional facts.<ref>''State v. Famber'', 214 S.W.2d 40 (Mo. 1947).</ref><ref name=":0" /> By contrast, [[circumstantial evidence]] can help prove via inference whether an assertion is true,<ref name="Circumstantial Evidence">{{cite book |last1=Lehman |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Phelps |first2=Shirelle |title=West's Encyclopedia of American Law, Vol. 2 | edition=2 |date=2005 |publisher=Thomson/Gale |location=Detroit |isbn=9780787663742 |page=382}}</ref> such as [[forensics]] presented by an [[expert witness]].

In a [[criminal case]], an eyewitness provides direct evidence of the ''[[actus reus]]'' if they testify that they witnessed the actual performance of the criminal event under question. Other testimony, such as the witness description of a chase leading up to an act of violence or a so-called ''[[smoking gun]]'' is considered circumstantial.<ref>{{cite book |last=Walton |first=Douglas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u_ZCcPqwU_YC&pg=PA78 |title=Legal Argumentation and Evidence |publisher=Penn State Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0271048338 |page=78 |author-link=Douglas N. Walton}}</ref>

==See also==
*{{Annotated link|Digital evidence}}
*{{Annotated link|Evidence}}
*[[Hearsay]] – Usually inadmissible description of out-of-court statements
*''[[In flagrante delicto]]'' – The catching of a criminal "red-handed"

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Direct Evidence}}
[[Category:Legal terminology]]
[[Category:Evidence law]]


{{Law-term-stub}}