Evidence that tends to establish the defendant's innocence and shows no criminal intent is known as what?

The correct term for evidence that tends to establish the defendant's innocence and demonstrates a lack of criminal intent is exculpatory evidence. This type of evidence plays a crucial role in the judicial process, as it can significantly influence the outcome of a case by providing information that aids the defense. For instance, exculpatory evidence can include alibi witnesses, physical evidence that disproves involvement in a crime, or documentation that illustrates a legitimate explanation for the defendant’s actions.

In contrast, physical evidence refers to tangible items that can be presented in court, but it does not inherently serve to establish innocence unless it's specifically related to a defendant's exoneration. Testimonial evidence consists of statements made by witnesses under oath, which may or may not be exculpatory. Documentary evidence involves records or documents that are presented in court to support a case but do not directly relate to proving innocence in the same way exculpatory evidence does.