Legal Definitions - evidencing mark

Definition: A group of circumstances that, when taken as a whole, form a composite feature that can be reliably associated with a single object. This term is used more frequently in criminal cases than in civil. In criminal cases, it usually refers to evidence that establishes a perpetrator's identity, but in civil cases, it often refers to evidence that an event did or did not occur. It is also known as evidencing feature or evidential mark.

• A fingerprint found at the scene of a crime is an evidencing mark that can be used to identify the perpetrator.
• A surveillance video showing a person entering a building at the time of a burglary is an evidencing feature that can be used to establish their involvement in the crime.
• In a civil case, a signed contract can be an evidencing mark that proves an agreement was made between two parties.

These examples illustrate how a group of circumstances or evidence can be used to reliably associate a single object or event. In criminal cases, evidencing marks are often used to identify a perpetrator, while in civil cases, they are used to prove or disprove the occurrence of an event.