California Private Investigator Practice Exam

Which of the following is typically considered direct evidence?

1. Eyewitness testimony

2. Security camera footage

3. Forensic analysis

4. Both a and b

The correct answer is: Both a and b

Direct evidence refers to evidence that directly supports the truth of an assertion without requiring any additional inference or presumption. Eyewitness testimony is a prime example of direct evidence because it involves a person recounting what they personally observed. This type of evidence is considered powerful in legal settings because it provides firsthand accounts relevant to the case at hand. Security camera footage is also direct evidence. It directly captures events as they occur in real-time, providing visual proof of actions or incidents without needing interpretation to establish what is occurring in the footage. This forms a clear connection to the events under investigation. Both eyewitness testimony and security camera footage serve as direct evidence in legal contexts, making the combination of the two particularly compelling. Neither relies on secondary interpretation and both offer immediate, actionable insights into the circumstances being examined. This makes the provided answer robust and accurate in defining direct evidence in relation to the choices given.