What are Key Pieces of Evidence in a Murder Trial?
Gathering sufficient evidence is key to building a strong defense. Whether it is fingerprint evidence, DNA, or a blood-stained gown, persuasive evidence can establish probable cause that you committed a crime, while other evidence can exonerate you of guilt.
While some evidence is tangible, other evidence needs to be collected through scientific means, and some must be gathered from eyewitness testimony. In this article, our criminal defense lawyer discusses key pieces of evidence in a Tennessee murder trial.
Physical Evidence
Physical evidence is any material object that can be found at the scene of a crime. Physical evidence can provide insight into the crime circumstances to law enforcement and private investigators.
Physical items left at the scene of a crime may include a shredded tire, a knife, blood-stained clothing, or hair on a coat.
Biological Evidence
A type of physical evidence, biological evidence consists of body fluids and tissues that must be retrieved through scientific means. Biological evidence may include semen, saliva, sloughed skin cells, blood, or hair. This type of evidence will contain a person’s DNA, linking the individual to the crime.
Crime scene investigators and forensic scientists know how to gather, process, and analyze biological evidence. Upon analyzing evidence, crime scene investigators will attempt to reconstruct the chain of events leading up to the crime.
Testimonial Evidence
While generally considered not as reliable as physical evidence, testimonial evidence can sway a jury’s verdict when physical evidence may be lacking. An eyewitness can testify regarding what he or she saw, heard, or the mood of the crime scene. Testimonial evidence often supports the established facts in a case and helps clarify any missing information.
Witness testimony is given under oath or affirmation, and it may be oral or written. While testimonial evidence has benefits, it also has major drawbacks. It may confuse matters if there are multiple versions of the story relayed by more than one witness.
Documentary Evidence
Documentary evidence is any evidence that contains a record of some kind. It may include emails, letters, contracts, bank statements, video footage, or photographs. While it may be unlikely that a person recorded a murder on their cell phone, it may be possible that a surveillance camera documented the murder. Documentary evidence can help clarify any missing information in a murder case, but it can be difficult to obtain without the assistance of a Tennessee murder trial lawyer.
Importance of Authenticating Evidence
To admit an item into evidence, you must establish that the evidence is valid in a process that is known as authentication. Authenticating evidence is the cornerstone of our legal system, certifying that admitted evidence is credible. This allows a judge or jury to rely upon this evidence in drawing factual conclusions.
Speak with our Tennessee Murder Trial Lawyer Today
If you have been accused of murder, you need to obtain top-notch legal representation to defend the charges brought against you. If you are looking for aggressive counsel, look no further than Andrew C. Beasley, PLLC. To schedule your free consultation, contact us online or by phone.