What is "circumstantial evidence"

Evidence \Ev"i*dence\, n. [F. ['e]vidence, L. Evidentia. See Evident.]

1. That which makes evident or manifest; that which furnishes, or tends to furnish, proof; any mode of proof; the ground of belief or judgement; as, the evidence of our senses; evidence of the truth or falsehood of a statement.

   Faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen.
   --Heb. xi. 1.

   O glorious trial of exceeding love Illustrious evidence, example high.
   --Milton.

2. One who bears witness. [R.] ``Infamous and perjured evidences.''
   --Sir W. Scott.

3. (Law) That which is legally submitted to competent tribunal, as a means of ascertaining the truth of any alleged matter of fact under investigation before it; means of making proof; -- the latter, strictly speaking, not being synonymous with evidence, but rather the effect of it.
   --Greenleaf.

   Circumstantial evidence, Conclusive evidence, etc. See under Circumstantial, Conclusive, etc.

   Crown's evidence, King's evidence, or Queen's evidence, evidence for the crown, in English courts; equivalent to state's evidence in American courts. [Eng.]

   State's evidence, evidence for the government or the people. [U. S. ]

   To turn King's evidence To turn Queen's evidence, or To turn State's evidence, to confess a crime and give evidence against one's accomplices.

   Syn: Testimony; proof. See Testimony.

circumstantial \cir`cum*stan"tial\ (s[~e]r`k[u^]m*st[a^]n"shal), a. [Cf. F. circonstanciel.]

1. Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or particular incidents.

   The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under circumstantial variety.
   --Paley.

2. Incidental; relating to, but not essential.

   We must therefore distinguish between the essentials in religious worship . . . and what is merely circumstantial.
   --Sharp.

3. Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all the circumstances; minute; particular.

   Tedious and circumstantial recitals.
   --Prior.

   Circumstantial evidence (Law), evidence obtained from circumstances, which necessarily or usually attend facts of a particular nature, from which arises presumption. According to some authorities circumstantial is distinguished from positive evidence in that the latter is the testimony of eyewitnesses to a fact or the admission of a party; but the prevalent opinion now is that all such testimony is dependent on circumstances for its support. All testimony is more or less circumstantial.
   --Wharton.

   Syn: See Minute.

n. evidence providing only a basis for inference about the fact in dispute [syn: indirect evidence] [ant: direct evidence]

Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact—like a fingerprint at the scene of a crime. By contrast, direct evidence supports the truth of an assertion directly—i.e., without need for any additional evidence or inference.

On its own, circumstantial evidence allows for more than one explanation. Different pieces of circumstantial evidence may be required, so that each corroborates the conclusions drawn from the others. Together, they may more strongly support one particular inference over another. An explanation involving circumstantial evidence becomes more likely once alternative explanations have been ruled out .

Circumstantial evidence allows a trier of fact to infer that a fact exists. In criminal law, the inference is made by the trier of fact in order to support the truth of an assertion (of guilt or absence of guilt).

Testimony can be direct evidence or it can be circumstantial. For instance, a witness saying that she saw a defendant stab a victim is providing direct evidence. By contrast, a witness who says that she saw the defendant enter a house, that she heard screaming, and that she saw the defendant leave with a bloody knife gives circumstantial evidence. It is the necessity for inference, and not the obviousness of a conclusion, that determines whether evidence is circumstantial.

Forensic evidence supplied by an expert witness is usually treated as circumstantial evidence. For instance, a forensic scientist may provide results of ballistic tests proving that the defendant’s firearm fired the bullets that killed the victim (but not necessarily that the defendant is the one who fired the gun At the victim, if indeed the death by gunshot was anyone's deliberate and wilful intention).

Circumstantial evidence is especially important in civil and criminal cases where direct evidence is lacking.

Circumstantial Evidence is a 1945 American film noir directed by John Larkin and starring Michael O'Shea, Lloyd Nolan, and Trudy Marshall.

Circumstantial evidence is a concept in law.

Circumstantial Evidence may also refer to:

• Circumstantial Evidence (1929 film), a German silent crime film
• Circumstantial Evidence (1929 film), an American melodrama film
• Circumstantial Evidence (1935 film), an American film
• Circumstantial Evidence (1945 film), a 1945 American film noir
• Circumstantial Evidence (1952 film), a British film
• Circumstantial Evidence (album), a 1987 Shalamar album

'Circumstantial Evidence ' is a 1952 British crime film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Rona Anderson, Patrick Holt and John Arnatt. The film was produced by Phil Brandon for Act Films Ltd.

Circumstantial Evidence (German: Indizienbeweis) is a 1929 German silent crime film directed by Georg Jacoby and starring Fritz Alberti, Ruth Weyher, Valy Arnheim and Henry Edwards. It is based on a novel by Marie Corelli. Countess Romani grows bored of her life in Corsica and wishes to go elsewhere. It is also known by the alternative title Vendetta. It premiered on 15 February 1929.

Circumstantial Evidence is the ninth album by American R&B group Shalamar, produced by L.A. Reid & Babyface, Jerry Peters, and Klymaxx founding member Bernadette Cooper. Released in 1987 on the SOLAR label. The line-up on this album is Delisa Davis, Micki Free and Sydney Justin, the latter having replaced Howard Hewett, who had left the group in 1986 to pursue a solo career.

Circumstantial Evidence peaked at #29 on the R&B chart but failed to register on the Billboard chart.

Circumstantial Evidence is a 1929 American crime film directed by Wilfred Noy and starring Cornelius Keefe, Helen Foster and Alice Lake.

Circumstantial Evidence is a 1935 drama film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Chick Chandler, Shirley Grey and Arthur Vinton.