CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

indirect evidence; secondary facts by which a principal fact may be reasonably inferred. EXAMPLE: There are no eyewitnesses to place Julio at the site of the car accident, but there is a variety of circumstantial evidence to suggest that Julio was involved. The prints at the scene of the accident match the tires on his car, the color of several scratches on the other person's car is the same as the color of Julio's car, and his car is dented precisely where the other driver said it would be. That evidence could be used to implicate Julio in the collission.

Compare direct evidence Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; © 2016