What does circumstantial evidence provide in a legal context?

Circumstantial evidence refers to evidence that allows a fact to be inferred or concluded from other established facts rather than directly proving it. In a legal context, this type of evidence provides a logical connection that can support the conclusion regarding an individual’s involvement or the occurrence of an event. For instance, if a person is seen running from a crime scene or if their fingerprints are found on a weapon, while these do not directly demonstrate that the person committed the crime, they suggest a possible involvement based on the context and the connections drawn from these established observations.

The other options focus on different types of evidence or statements that do not convey the same inferential power as circumstantial evidence. Personal testimony offers firsthand accounts, documented physical evidence consists of tangible items like weapons or DNA, and statements made by law enforcement officers may provide context or procedural details, but none of these align with the inference characteristic intrinsic to circumstantial evidence.