Circumstantial

Circumstantial evidence describes information that doesn't directly connect a defendant to a crime but implies connection to it. Examples of circumstantial evidence include:

• An eyewitness account stating that the defendant was in the vicinity of a crime around the time it occurred

• Fingerprints at the scene of a crime taken from a location where the defendant would be present anyway, such as at their home or workplace

• A witness claim that the defendant stated threats or said they would commit the crime before it occurred

These examples don't directly prove that a defendant is guilty, but they provide background or context to a crime. Attorneys often rely on circumstantial evidence if direct evidence isn't available or compile a timeline of a crime.