Being accused of a crime may be overwhelming, but it can be won using the right approach. This means that you must understand the best strategies that will enable you to win your case.
You will have a better chance of coming out unscathed if you hire a criminal defense lawyer. They know what the prosecution has up their sleeves and will fight it out to get a positive outcome for you.
Below, we will discover five tips to help you achieve an acquittal or a not-guilty verdict in your criminal case.
Tips to Achieve an Acquittal or Not-Guilty Verdict in Your Criminal Case
1. Burden of Proof
In a criminal case, the burden of proof means that the prosecution must be able to prove that you are guilty of that particular crime beyond any reasonable doubt. The burden is extremely high because the law demands that there must be certainty before a conviction.
Your attorney will, therefore, gear all their efforts toward creating doubt about the presented evidence. The jury is not supposed to find you guilty if there is reasonable doubt.
A good criminal lawyer will point to discrepancies in the prosecution argument and show why the evidence presented may not be adequate.
2. Exclude Unreliable Evidence
Most times the prosecution tries to admit questionable evidence. If this evidence is obtained illegally, your attorney may motion for that evidence to be excluded.
Questionable evidence includes evidence that was acquired without a sufficient warrant or those acquired as a result of the violation of your rights.
The exclusion of such evidence is bound to weaken the prosecution’s case. It would become difficult for them to try fulfilling the burden of proof without it. This often leads to the dismissal of the case or acquittal.
3. Attack the Credibility of the Witnesses
A witness is the most important aspect in most cases. Your attorney can attempt to question the credibility of the witnesses.
Maybe the witness has a personal motive to lie, or maybe their memories are not as clear.
Your attorney may also be entitled to cross-examine the witness and unmask the discrepancies in their testimony.
4. Build a Solid Defense
The only difference it may make in some particular situations may be a well-prepared defense. It may be an issue of proving your innocence or that you acted in self-defense, either way, for which your lawyer has to come up with something solid.
Sometimes, it is not about proving you did not commit the crime, but that it was justified. Some common defenses employed quite often are self-defense, mistake of fact, and entrapment.
A good defense attorney will go over the facts with a fine comb and utilize the appropriate one to help swing the advantage to benefit your cause.
5. Choose the Right Lawyer
The kind of attorney you select can make or break your case. You should consider hiring a criminal defense attorney with trial experience. They must possess substantial knowledge concerning complex legal procedures and the presentation of arguments.
A good attorney would know how to properly cross-examine prosecution witnesses, handle motions about your case, and argue favorably to the jury. The more knowledgeable your attorney is, the better the chances of attaining a favorable outcome.
Conclusion
Success in a criminal case requires not only strategic planning but also understanding of the law. You want a concrete defense, the right attorney to handle your case, and an understanding of the burden of proof.
You can win a case by excluding the admission of untrustworthy evidence, challenging witnesses, and preparing concrete evidence for a strong defense that can increase the chances of a positive outcome.