If you’re going to court in Florida, you’ll want to understand what evidence can and cannot be presented to the judge or jury if applicable. One of the areas to focus on is the admissibility of evidence. The fact is that certain evidence, no matter how minuscule, can affect the end result of a court case. That is why it is important to understand the admissibility issues with types of evidence.
Presenting evidence to the courts
In order for evidence to be allowed in courts, it has to be relevant, material and competent. It must involve information that may prove or disprove the facts of the case. The evidence does not have to prove something concrete but may simply add to the case. In addition, it is important to understand the four types of evidence allowed in court. These include:
- Documentary evidence
- Real evidence
- Testimonials
- Demonstrative evidence
Admissibility issues with testimonial evidence
Testimonials are simply the act of someone coming up to the stand and answering questions about the case. Issues arise when people begin to forget or accidentally lie about their statements. The statements are then scrutinized even further if witnesses begin to talk about other items that were not mentioned under oath. In this case, a criminal law attorney may call hearsay towards the testimony. This means that if the court agrees, the evidence is then deemed inadmissible and should not be taken into consideration by the judge or jury.
Suppression of inadmissible evidence
Inadmissible physical evidence may also include items that were not properly handled prior to the court case, such as blood samples or a weapon. Your attorney may call for the suppression of the evidence presented as it cannot be trusted.
Dealing with evidence throughout a criminal case can be very difficult without professional help. The fact is that there are simply many moving parts, which is why the presence of an attorney is so important to working toward a positive outcome in your case.
