Credible evidence, including witness statements and physical evidence, is used to prove a point in court. The credibility of evidence is determined by a jury or other fact-finding body. Lawyers debate which evidence is credible, and potential motivations of witnesses may be questioned. Mistakes in the investigation can also raise doubts about evidence. There is no standard for determining credibility, and each case is unique.
Credible evidence is a term given to testimony and physical or circumstantial evidence that can be used to prove a point, especially in a court of law. The question of the adequacy of the evidence in a given case is usually a question of law. Determining the credibility of admitted evidence is usually subject to the interpretation of a jury or other body convened to determine the facts of a given case or situation.
In a court of law, the most credible evidence is introduced through witness statements. These individuals may be individuals who witnessed the alleged crime or event occur, or they may be law enforcement officers or other officials who witnessed the aftermath or effects of the incident. The goal of the lawyers is to discuss which evidence should be deemed credible and which should not.
Another form of credible evidence is physical evidence, which includes items that could have been used in the commission of a crime, forensic evidence, and recordings during the crime or during post-crime interviews. In such cases, witnesses or other officials typically explain how the physical evidence relates to the case and points to the person charged with the crime. Physical evidence, by itself, is rarely credible evidence without a detailed explanation of how it applies to the case.
One of the most common ways to raise concerns about testimony or evidence is to provide jurors or judges with a potential motivating factor for why a witness is saying what they are saying. For example, if the witness has a conflict with the defendant or defendant, this may provide a reason to doubt what might otherwise be considered credible evidence. The process of raising doubts about what a witness is saying is often referred to as witness impeachment.
Even credible evidence could be questioned if mistakes were made in the investigation of the crime. For example, if the crime scene has been compromised or the police have failed to properly catalog every part of the investigation, this could raise questions about some of the findings. The lawyers on the other side will try to explain some of the inconsistencies that may exist in the evidence.
While there may be guidelines that judges and juries use to determine what evidence is credible, there is no standard. Every case is different and the circumstances surrounding them can sometimes be difficult to interpret. Thus, those who make the decision by actually examining the case usually have a great deal of latitude in making evidence decisions. In some cases, both sides will establish certain facts of a case that are not in dispute, which are generally considered credible pieces of evidence by a judge or jury.
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