What can evidence include?

Evidence can include a wide range of tangible items and materials that directly relate to a crime or incident. The inclusion of fruits of a crime and instrumentalities of a crime as evidence is critical because these elements provide factual and concrete connections to the criminal activity.

Fruits of a crime refer to the items or gains that are produced as direct results of criminal acts. For example, stolen property or cash obtained from illegal activities fall under this category. Instrumentalities of a crime include tools and equipment that were used to commit the crime, such as weapons or vehicles utilized in illegal acts.

The rationale behind this is that both fruits and instrumentalities can be used to establish a timeline, show intent, and connect suspects to the actions taken. This concrete evidence can be pivotal in legal proceedings, helping to substantiate claims and build a case based on factual findings rather than assumptions or personal beliefs.

Other options involve unverifiable things such as speculative assumptions and personal beliefs, which do not hold weight in legal contexts as they do not provide concrete evidence or factual support for claims. Documentation can be important, but evidence encompasses much more than just paperwork; it includes physical items and materials that can be examined or analyzed in relation to the crime.