What type of evidence directly proves an alleged fact, such as a witness's testimony of seeing a crime?

Direct evidence is a type of evidence that directly establishes proof of an alleged fact without the need for any additional inferences or reasoning. In the context of a witness's testimony about seeing a crime, this kind of evidence is very straightforward; it provides firsthand proof of what occurred. When a witness testifies that they observed a crime happen, their account is directly related to the occurrence in question, making it a clear depiction of the event.

This contrasts with other types of evidence, such as exculpatory evidence, which tends to support a defendant's claim of innocence, or inculpatory evidence, which establishes a person’s involvement in a crime. Inadmissible evidence refers to information that cannot be presented to a court, either due to legal rules or relevance. Thus, direct evidence stands out as the most compelling form of proof when determining the facts of a case, as it does not require any additional interpretation beyond the immediate account provided.