Question

part a. for each piece of evidence below, classify as circumstantial or direct. circumstantial evidence can be further classified as either biological or physical. biological evidence is derived from a person, plant or mineral. such evidence would include dna, natural fibers and hair. all other evidence is considered physical and includes items such as prints, glass fragments, and bullets. for each piece of circumstantial evidence below, further classify as either biological or physical.

evidence	classification

|ransom note|
|police confession from suspect|
|paint transferred to vehicle|
|gunshot residue|
|glass fragments|
|a thief caught stealing from wal - mart|
|body fluids|
|dna|
|fingerprints|
|bite marks on a victims body|
|hairs|
|fibers|
|eye - witness accounts|
|a hit and run accident caught on film|
|a toxicology report that confirms that a victim used drugs|
|cell phone records|
|tool marks|
|tire prints|
|a signed confession from a suspect|
|police surveillance footage|

Explanation:

Direct evidence directly proves a fact without inference. Circumstantial evidence implies a fact through inference. Biological circumstantial evidence comes from living - related sources, physical from non - living sources.

1. Ransom note: Circumstantial, Physical (it's a non - living item).
2. Police confession from suspect: Direct (it directly states something).
3. Paint transferred to vehicle: Circumstantial, Physical (non - living material).
4. Gunshot residue: Circumstantial, Physical (non - living).
5. Glass fragments: Circumstantial, Physical (non - living).
6. A thief caught stealing from Wal - mart: Direct (the act is directly observed).
7. Body fluids: Circumstantial, Biological (from a living source).
8. DNA: Circumstantial, Biological (from a living source).
9. Fingerprints: Circumstantial, Physical (non - living impression).
10. Bite marks on a victim's body: Circumstantial, Biological (from a living source).
11. Hairs: Circumstantial, Biological (from a living source).
12. Fibers: Circumstantial, Physical (non - living).
13. Eye - witness accounts: Direct (direct observation).
14. A hit and run accident caught on film: Direct (direct visual evidence).
15. A toxicology report that confirms that a victim used drugs: Circumstantial, Physical (a non - living report).
16. Cell phone records: Circumstantial, Physical (non - living data).
17. Tool marks: Circumstantial, Physical (non - living impression).
18. Tire prints: Circumstantial, Physical (non - living impression).
19. A signed confession from a suspect: Direct (direct statement).
20. Police surveillance footage: Direct (direct visual evidence).

Answer:

Evidence	Classification
Police confession from suspect	Direct
Paint transferred to vehicle	Circumstantial, Physical
Gunshot residue	Circumstantial, Physical
Glass fragments	Circumstantial, Physical
A thief caught stealing from Wal - mart	Direct
Body fluids	Circumstantial, Biological
DNA	Circumstantial, Biological
Fingerprints	Circumstantial, Physical
Bite marks on a victim's body	Circumstantial, Biological
Hairs	Circumstantial, Biological
Fibers	Circumstantial, Physical
Eye - witness accounts	Direct
A hit and run accident caught on film	Direct
A toxicology report that confirms that a victim used drugs	Circumstantial, Physical
Cell phone records	Circumstantial, Physical
Tool marks	Circumstantial, Physical
Tire prints	Circumstantial, Physical
A signed confession from a suspect	Direct
Police surveillance footage	Direct