Real evidence

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Evidence
Part of the common law series
Types of evidence
Testimony · Documentary evidence
Physical evidence · Digital evidence
Exculpatory evidence · Scientific evidence
Demonstrative evidence · Real evidence
Eyewitness identification · DNA · Lies
Relevance
Burden of proof · Laying a foundation
Subsequent remedial measure
Character evidence · Habit evidence
Similar fact evidence
Authentication
Chain of custody
Judicial notice · Best evidence rule
Self-authenticating document
Ancient document
Witnesses
Competence · Privilege
Direct examination · Cross-examination
Impeachment · Recorded recollection
Expert witness · Dead man statute
Hearsay (and its exceptions)
Hearsay: in U.K. law · in U.S. law
Confessions · Business records
Excited utterance · Dying declaration
Party admission · Ancient document
Declarations against interest
Present sense impression · Res gestae
Learned treatise  · Implied assertion
Other areas of the common law
Contract law · Tort law · Property law
Wills and Trusts · Criminal law

Real evidence is a type of physical evidence and consists of objects that were involved in a case or actually played a part in the incident or transaction in question.

[edit] Examples

Examples include the written contract, the defective part or defective product, the murder weapon, the gloves used by an alleged murderer. Trace evidence, such as fingerprints and firearm residue, is a species of real evidence. Real evidence is usually reported upon by an expert witness with appropriate qualifications to give an opinion. This normally means a forensic scientist or one qualified in forensic engineering.

Admission of real evidence requires authentication, a showing of relevance, and a showing that the object is in “the same or substantially the same condition” now as it was on the relevant date. An object of real evidence is authenticated through the senses of witnesses or by circumstantial evidence called chain of custody.