Which of the following is an example of circumstantial evidence?

• A. Eyewitness testimony describing the crime.
• B. A video recording showing the crime.
• C. Footwear impressions linking a suspect to the scene.
• D. A confession by the suspect.

Answer: (C)

Circumstantial evidence consists of facts that require an inference to prove a fact about the crime. Footwear impressions linking a suspect to the scene fit this because they don’t directly show the crime happened or who did it; they imply the person was present and may have been involved, leaving the conclusion to be drawn from the combination of clues. Direct evidence, by contrast, directly demonstrates a fact: eyewitness descriptions of the crime, a video recording of the event, or a confession all establish the crime or guilt without needing inference. So footwear impressions are the best example of circumstantial evidence because they require reasoning to connect the suspect to the crime.