History Main / SmokingGun

-->--'''Evidence Law Book''', VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney

** In ''Literature/TurnCoat'', Dresden brings one in the form of [[spoiler: A picture of the actual perpetrator arriving in Chicago]].

* The damages hearing of Alex Jones in Texas who was being sued for saying Sandy Hook was a FalseFlagAttack and/or staged, which led to the parents of the killed children and teachers being harassed. One of the reasons Jones had been found guilty by default in a previous hearing, was that he had failed to turn over material that had been subpoenaed by the opposing counsel, claiming it didn't exist or couldn't be found. During his cross examination by Mark Bankston, the attorney produced a series of text messages from Jones' own phone about Sandy Hook that hadn't been turned over, proving he lied on the stand when he testified he'd "done everything" to comply.

* A person introduces evidence randomly WITHOUT anyone knowing about it beforehand, even the judge. The evidence is absolutely crucial, and even by existing in the room at the exact moment, the perpetrator is either found guilty, or exposed. If the perpetrator is not the defendant or the prosecution, expect them to be in the courtroom when this evidence is shown, and the bailiff and security will get them before they can make any motion to escape. In real life introducing evidence in this manner is completely illegal to the system, and can cost the defense or prosecution the case, get the case mistrialed, set for a new date, or given a new jury. [[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief Not that that matters in fiction.]] Sometimes justified or {{hand wave}}d by the prosecutor and/or the judge being informed of the existence of such a smoking gun, and if not cooperating, at least acquiescing to the CourtroomAntic needed to bring it in.

Sometimes other {{Courtroom Antic}}s are pulled to buy time if it is known the smoking gun will arrive soon. Often, the key piece of evidence is the real perpetrator being CaughtOnTape. Compare SurpriseWitness. When used outside the courtroom as the last part of a BatDeduction, it's ClueEvidenceAndASmokingGun.

Sometimes other {{Courtroom Antic}}s are pulled to buy time if it is known the smoking gun will arrive soon. Often, the key piece of evidence is the real perpetrator being CaughtOnTape. Compare SurpriseWitness. When used outside the courtroom as the last part of a BatDeduction, it's ClueEvidenceAndASmokingGun

** Subverted at the end of case 2-4, where [[spoiler:Gumshoe and Franziska work desperately to get apparently crucial evidence to the courtroom before the end of the trial, and Phoenix keeps stalling for time to the point that the Judge is seriously pissed, only for the evidence to be (apparently) completely worthless.]]

* The Canadian TV series ''Exhibit A: Case Studies In Forensic Science'' played with this trope in its accounts of Canadian crime investigations. At some point during each episode, host Creator/GrahamGreeneActor would present what he called "Exhibit A", the piece of evidence that typically broke the case for the police.
* ''Series/DivorceCourt'', ''Superior Court'' and ''The Judge'': A bread-and-butter staple of these 1980s courtroom dramas. In more than a few episodes, the defense will rest its case before the prosecution will play its ace with a surprise piece of evidence, almost always which leads to conviction of the defendant. Sometimes subverted, as it will be a key prosecution witness who will be exposed with a piece of surprise evidence, and the defendant will be acquitted or, at the very least, a plea deal will be brokered or mistrial will be declared.

* The Canadian TV series ''Exhibit A: Case Studies In Forensic Science'' played with this trope in its accounts of Canadian crime investigations. At some point during each episode, host Graham Greene would present what he called "Exhibit A", the piece of evidence that typically broke the case for the police.

* The Christmas special ''WesternAnimation/GrandmaGotRunOverByAReindeer'' has the grandson Jake clearing Santa's name with surprise evidence and no backing from anyone other than his own knowledge by proving the real culprit [[spoiler: his Cousin Mel. To do this, he enters the courtroom, states that Cousin Mel gave the cake that grandma had "Reindeer Nip", which caused the reindeer to make a U turn and slam into her. That, along with a note that says essentially "It's okay, I'm Santa, I'm going to take your grandmother to the north pole to heal, causes his cousin to confess and get herself arrested.]] [[AssPull Almost as if the writers knew this was impossible]], the prosecution attempts to object, and the judge never acknowledges that he said anything and lets Jake keep talking.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Webcomic/KarateBears found [[http://www.karatebears.com/2012/02/smoking-gun.html the smoking gun]] they had it.

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** The animation cel in one episode which revealed the true creator of Itchy and Scratchy.
** In "Bart the Murderer", Bart is about to be found guilty of the murder of Principal Skinner when Skinner shows up and explains what really happened.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}: The Goliath Chronicles'', Goliath clears his name of jewelry theft by conning a confession out of the real thief and getting it on tape, then arriving in the courtroom with the thief and the tape.
* The Christmas special ''WesternAnimation/GrandmaGotRunOverByAReindeer'' has the grandson Jake clearing Santa's name with surprise evidence and no backing from anyone other than his own knowledge by proving the real culprit [[spoiler: his Cousin Mel. To do this, he enters the courtroom, states that Cousin Mel gave the cake that grandma had "Reindeer Nip", which caused the reindeer to make a U turn and slam into her. That, along with a note that says essentially "It's okay, I'm Santa, I'm going to take your grandmother to the north pole to heal, causes his cousin to confess and get herself arrested.]] [[AssPull Almost as if the writers knew this was impossible]], the prosecution attempts to object, and the judge never acknowledges that he said anything and lets Jake keep talking.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* The infamous Watergate scandal. U.S. President Richard Nixon was ultimately forced to give up a tape recording that proved irrefutably that he did indeed try to cover up his participation in the breaking in of the Watergate building. Rather than face impeachment trials, Nixon resigned.
[[/folder]]

* Used literally in ''WesternAninimation/BeeMovie''. Barry's friend even has to buy time, and the defending lawyer demands evidence (despite there already being evidence) of a smoking gun. Barry shows up with a smoke gun used to calm down honeybees. Bees win the case against humans.