Which item is an example of real evidence?

Which item is an example of real evidence?

• A. A spoken statement by a witness.
• B. A seized firearm.
• C. A map showing locations.
• D. A digital video recording.

Answer: (B)

Real evidence is a physical object connected to the crime that the jury can touch, inspect, and analyze. A seized firearm is a tangible item investigators can handle, preserve with a clear chain of custody, and test for forensic evidence such as fingerprints or ballistic matching. It directly embodies facts of the case in a way that testimony or representations do not. A spoken statement by a witness is testimonial evidence—valuable, but not a physical item. A map showing locations is a representation used to illustrate facts and falls under documentary or demonstrative evidence. A digital video recording is also an artifact, but its primary function is to document events rather than be the actual item involved in the crime; the firearm best fits the classic example of real, tangible evidence.

Real evidence is a physical object connected to the crime that the jury can touch, inspect, and analyze. A seized firearm is a tangible item investigators can handle, preserve with a clear chain of custody, and test for forensic evidence such as fingerprints or ballistic matching. It directly embodies facts of the case in a way that testimony or representations do not. A spoken statement by a witness is testimonial evidence—valuable, but not a physical item. A map showing locations is a representation used to illustrate facts and falls under documentary or demonstrative evidence. A digital video recording is also an artifact, but its primary function is to document events rather than be the actual item involved in the crime; the firearm best fits the classic example of real, tangible evidence.