Demonstrative evidence
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|---|
| Part of the common law series |
| Types of evidence |
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| Exculpatory evidence · Scientific evidence |
| Demonstrative evidence |
| Hearsay: in U.K. law · in U.S. law |
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| Learned treatise · Implied assertion |
| Other areas of the common law |
| Contract law · Tort law · Property law |
| Wills and Trusts · Criminal law |
Demonstrative evidence is evidence in the form of a representation of an object. Examples include photos, x-rays, videotapes, movies, sound recordings, diagrams, maps, drawings, graphs, animations, simulations, models. It is useful for assisting a finder of fact (fact-finder) in establishing context among the facts presented in a case. To be admissible, a demonstrative exhibit must “fairly and accurately” represent the real object at the relevant time.
Before photographs and other demonstrative evidence, lawyers relied on purely testimonial or substantive evidence. Melvin Belli and Earl Rogers helped change that by introducing more demonstrative evidence. Scientific evidence emerged in the 1960s.