Which type of evidence tends to exonerate the accused?

• A. Inculpatory evidence
• B. Direct evidence
• C. Exculpatory evidence
• D. Circumstantial evidence

Answer: (C)

Exculpatory evidence is evidence that tends to show the defendant did not commit the crime or is not guilty. Examples include an alibi witness who places the defendant elsewhere at the time of the crime, or forensic results such as DNA or fingerprint evidence that exclude the defendant. The key effect is to undermine the prosecution’s case and support the defendant’s innocence. Inculpatory evidence tends to prove guilt, while direct evidence directly proves a fact and circumstantial evidence relies on inferences from related facts; both can be exculpatory if they point to innocence, but the defining feature is their tendency to exonerate.