When we face various difficulties whether in our private or professional lives, we often need evidence to clarify the situation and to obtain information for a satisfactory resolution. Evidence in a case is anything that can contribute to clarifying the circumstances of a situation while not being contrary to the law.
What can be evidence in a case?
Evidence in a case can be various materials such as documents, photographs, recordings, witness statements or expert opinions. Any of these pieces of evidence can be relevant in establishing the facts and influence the course of the case. Any trace or information that can help to understand the actual course of events is potentially useful evidence. The most important thing is that each piece of evidence is obtained in accordance with the law.
In particular, these may include:
- Information or facts – which are material to the determination of the case.
- Documents – official and unofficial papers, contracts, receipts, files that can confirm the facts in question.
- Photographs and recordings – visual material documenting specific situations or a state of affairs.
- Witness statements – accounts of people who have direct or indirect knowledge of the circumstances of a case.
- Expert opinions – expert reports from specialists in a particular field that can help clarify complex issues.
Who can collect evidence?
The collection of evidence is primarily carried out by law enforcement authorities, such as the police or the public prosecutor’s office. Nevertheless, the right to collect evidence also applies to persons who have a legal interest in the case, such as parties to the proceedings. Moreover, these persons may use the assistance of licensed detectives who are authorised to conduct certain evidentiary activities.
The role of the detective in evidence gathering
A detective may have an important role in the evidentiary process, but his or her activities must be limited to activities that are not exclusively reserved for law enforcement. Detectives must act in accordance with the law and with respect for human and civil liberties and rights. In practice, this means that a detective may not conduct investigative activities or use coercive measures, but may assist in establishing certain facts that may be relevant to the case.
What evidence can a detective obtain?
A detective may carry out activities aimed at:
- Establishing facts – documenting family, property, professional or private status by means of photographs, recordings, lists or inventories.
- Obtaining information about witnesses – a detective may search for potential witnesses, as well as verify the credibility of existing witnesses without interfering with their testimony already given
- Verifying the reliability of evidence – analysing documents or other evidence for their veracity and reliability.
- Verify the veracity of stated facts – an investigator may analyse the correspondence of information presented with reality, especially if there is a suspicion of forgery or manipulation.
- Investigate financial history and habits – analyse the work record, financial history, and identify any ambiguities in financial behaviour.
- Conduct community interviews – gathering information on a person’s reputation, social relationships and habits, which may be important in assessing credibility or motives.
- Establishing actual residence – verifying a residential address to enable delivery of correspondence or to confirm information provided by the person.
- Collect recordings documenting events – if necessary, the detective may try to reach private individuals who have recordings relevant to the case.
Any evidence should be properly secured and the detective’s report should include a detailed description of how the evidence was obtained.
Summary
Evidence is the cornerstone of every court case and investigation, which is why it is so important that it is collected and stored in accordance with the applicable laws. A licensed detective can be extremely helpful in obtaining them, especially in cases that require accurate findings and verification of facts that are difficult to verify by other means. Using the services of a detective provides an opportunity to obtain evidence that is not only valuable, but also obtained in accordance with the law, so that it can be presented in court.
Remember that the quality and reliability of evidence can determine the outcome of the entire case. Therefore, it is important that the process of their collection is carried out professionally, respecting all formal requirements. Well-collected evidence, properly secured and described, not only helps clarify the case for the persons concerned, but also provides a solid foundation for the decisions taken by the court or the parties to the proceedings.
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