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 body of facts that directly supports the truth of an assertion without intervening inference. It is often exemplified by eyewitness testimony,{{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}}{{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}} which consists of a witness's description of their reputed direct sensory experience of an alleged act without the presentation of additional facts.State v. Famber, 214 S.W.2d 40 (Mo. 1947). By contrast, circumstantial evidence can help prove via inference whether an assertion is true,{{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}} 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.{{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}}