Colorado POST Practice Exam

What is considered direct evidence?

1. Circumstantial evidence

2. Witness testimony or physical evidence

3. Hearsay statements

4. Expert opinions

The correct answer is: Witness testimony or physical evidence

Direct evidence is defined as evidence that directly establishes a fact without the need for any additional reasoning or inference. Witness testimony and physical evidence fall under this definition because they provide first-hand accounts or tangible proof regarding a specific event or fact. For instance, if a witness saw a crime occur and gives their account in court, that testimony is direct evidence of the incident. Similarly, physical evidence, like a weapon found at a crime scene with fingerprints that match a suspect, serves as direct proof linking the suspect to the crime. In contrast, circumstantial evidence requires inference to establish a fact. Hearsay statements, which involve second-hand information and are generally not admissible in court, cannot be directly relied upon as evidence of a fact. Expert opinions, while potentially valuable in understanding a subject, also require interpretation to connect them to the facts of a case. Therefore, witness testimony or physical evidence holds the strongest position as direct evidence in legal contexts.