Which item is an example of physical evidence?

• A. A witness statement
• B. A recorded video
• C. A blood-stained knife
• D. A fingerprint on a door handle

Answer: (D)

Physical evidence is tangible material from a crime scene that can be touched, collected, and analyzed. A fingerprint on a door handle fits this perfectly because it’s a physical trace left by a person that investigators can lift, compare, and use to identify someone who was at the scene. It directly links a person to the location through a measurable, recoverable mark.

A witness statement, in contrast, is testimonial and relies on memory rather than a physical object. A recorded video is a recorded record of events, not a physical item left behind. A blood-stained knife is also physical evidence, but the fingerprint example is a classic, direct trace that uniquely ties an individual to the scene.