What is the primary objective of circumstantial evidence?

Circumstantial evidence serves to imply a fact through indirect means. It does not provide direct proof but instead allows the investigator or jury to draw reasonable inferences based on the available information and circumstances surrounding a case. For instance, if a person was seen near a crime scene shortly before an incident occurred, this could suggest a possible connection to the crime, even if it does not directly prove involvement. The strength of circumstantial evidence lies in its ability to build a case through a compilation of related facts that, when viewed collectively, can support a particular conclusion or imply a scenario that aligns with the prosecution's narrative.

Other forms of evidence, like direct evidence or confessions, provide more straightforward assertions of fact, which distinguishes circumstantial evidence in its reliance on the surrounding context to substantiate claims made in legal proceedings.