Burden of proof refers to the legal responsibility of the prosecution to present sufficient evidence in a criminal case to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In a criminal trial, the burden of proof rests solely on the prosecution, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
To meet the burden of proof, the prosecution must present evidence that is strong enough to convince the judge or jury of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that the evidence presented must be compelling and convincing enough that there is no reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime.
The standard of proof required in criminal cases is high, as the consequences of a conviction can be severe, including imprisonment or even the death penalty. Therefore, the prosecution must be able to present a strong case with compelling evidence to meet the burden of proof.
In civil cases, the burden of proof is usually lower than in criminal cases. In a civil case, the plaintiff must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence, which means that the evidence presented must show that it is more likely than not that the defendant is liable for the alleged harm or injury.