Legal Definitions - exonerative fact

An exonerative fact is a piece of information that can modify a legal relationship in a way that eliminates someone's obligation to another person. In simpler terms, it is a fact that can prove someone's innocence in a criminal case.

• John was accused of stealing a car, but it was later discovered that he was out of the country at the time of the theft. This exonerative fact proved his innocence and the charges were dropped.
• Sarah was charged with assault, but video evidence showed that she was acting in self-defense. This exonerative fact convinced the jury of her innocence.

These examples illustrate how an exonerative fact can be used to prove someone's innocence in a criminal case. In both cases, the facts presented were able to convince the court or jury that the accused person was not guilty of the crime they were charged with.