Circumstantial evidence is best described as what?

Circumstantial evidence is best described as evidence that does not directly support a fact but rather suggests a conclusion or inference from the surrounding circumstances. It relies on an indirect connection to the matter in question rather than a direct witness or definitive proof. For example, if a person's fingerprints are found at a crime scene, that directly supports their presence at the scene; however, if someone saw the individual near the location shortly before the crime occurred, it is circumstantial evidence. This type of evidence can be crucial in building a case, as it allows investigators to piece together various elements that can lead to a reasonable inference about what happened.

Other options suggest direct evidence or irrelevant information, which do not accurately reflect the nature of circumstantial evidence. While eyewitness accounts are valuable, they are not the only form of circumstantial evidence and do not exclusively pertain to it. Similarly, evidence without relevance to investigations does not fulfill the criteria of circumstantial evidence.