A copy of evidence or oral description of its contents; which is not as reliable as best evidence is what type of
evidence?

A.
Direct evidence

B.
Circumstantial evidence

C.
Hearsay evidence

D.
Secondary evidence

Explanation:
Oral evidence, such as a witness’s testimony, and copies of original documents are placed in the secondary
evidence category.
Secondary evidence is not viewed as reliable and strong in proving innocence or guilt (or liability in civil cases)
when compared to best evidence.
Incorrect Answers:
A: Direct evidence can prove a fact all by itself and does not need backup information to refer to.
B: Circumstantial evidence can prove an intermediate fact that can then be used to deduce or assume the
existence of another fact.
C: Hearsay evidence pertains to oral or written evidence presented in court that is secondhand and has no
firsthand proof of accuracy or reliability. Hearsay is even less reliable compared to secondary evidence.

Harris, Shon, All In One CISSP Exam Guide, 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2013, p. 1055