If a witness provided information about someone seen leaving the scene of a fire, what kind of evidence is this?

The information provided by a witness about someone seen leaving the scene of a fire qualifies as circumstantial evidence because it relies on an inference to connect the observed behavior (the individual leaving) with the possibility of involvement in the fire incident. Rather than being direct testimony about the actions taken during the fire itself, this type of evidence suggests a potential link based on the witness's observations and the circumstances surrounding the event.

Circumstantial evidence serves to establish circumstances that can lead investigators to draw conclusions about the situation, while direct evidence would involve firsthand testimonies or physical proof that explicitly connects someone to the crime. Hearsay evidence, on the other hand, refers to statements made outside of court that cannot be directly attributed to the witness themselves if they are reporting what someone else said, and physical evidence involves tangible items collected at the scene, such as debris or fire patterns.