What is secondary evidence?

Secondary evidence refers to any evidence that is used to support the existence of primary evidence when the original primary evidence is unavailable. This could include documents, testimonies, or other forms of evidence that suggest or imply the existence of the primary source. For instance, a witness's statement about seeing a document can serve as secondary evidence if the actual document cannot be presented in court.

In this context, secondary evidence becomes critical in legal situations where primary evidence may have been lost, destroyed, or is otherwise inaccessible. The function of secondary evidence is to provide a basis for convincing the court of the facts that are intended to be supported by the primary evidence. Thus, documentation that indicates or suggests the existence of primary evidence aligns closely with the definition of secondary evidence, confirming that this choice is the most accurate among the options provided.