When a prosecutor is attempting to prove a case, they will need to gather evidence so that they will be able to mount the strongest offense possible. When attempting to build this case, they will use two different types of evidence – what is known as circumstantial evidence and what is known as direct evidence. The easiest to understand is direct evidence. A piece of evidence that is considered to be “direct evidence” is something that supports an assertion without any sort of assumption or inference. An example of direct evidence would be the testimony of a witness who directly saw the defendant commit the crime.
On the other hand, what is more commonly used is what is known as circumstantial evidence. While not quite as strong in an argument as direct evidence, it can nevertheless create a strong case and make it difficult for a defendant. An example of a piece of circumstantial evidence would be something such as a fingerprint found at the scene of the crime or even photographs. While many people view direct evidence as preferable, the truth is that circumstantial evidence can be just as strong – if not stronger in some cases.
For example, an advantage of circumstantial evidence is that it comes from multiple different sources and these can therefore be used to check and confirm one another. It, however, is not without its weaknesses. The most obvious weakness of circumstantial evidence is that it has to be pieced together by the prosecutor and commonly rests heavily on assumption, inference and even conclusions drawn instead of what is directly known to be true. In many cases, this can be used by an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to build a counterattack.
If you have recently been criminally charged and find yourself facing considerable circumstantial evidence, it is in your best interests to get the involvement of a knowledgeable lawyer to help you piece together the strongest defense possible. At Okabe & Haushalter, we have vast experience in handling criminal cases and know the best ways in which we can help our clients obtain the strongest defense possible. You can rest assured knowing that should you choose to contact a Los Angeles criminal lawyer from our firm that you will have a heavyweight in your corner that is fully dedicated to helping you through this trying time.
So what are you waiting for? No matter the type of evidence that you are facing, you should not be forced to handle your claim alone. At our firm, we are experienced criminal attorneys and we are here to help you get the best possible outcome. Give us a call today to schedule your initial case evaluation.
