5 Vital Ways to Build a Solid Defense in Your Criminal Case

When you decide to go to trial for your criminal charges, you will need to do two primary things. First, you need a criminal defense attorney. Secondly, you will need to build a solid defense case. Fortunately, you will not have to build the case; your attorney will do it for you. As you work with your lawyer on your case, they will incorporate many things into your defense. Here are five vital things that lawyers use to build solid defenses.

1. The Defendant's Criminal History

If you have a clean criminal record, your attorney will use it in your case as part of the defense. A person without any criminal charges is not a habitual offender. Instead, they are a first-time offender, and courts factor this in when settling criminal charges.

2. The Facts and Evidence

Lawyers also use facts and evidence to build defense cases. If all the evidence points to someone else committing the crime, your lawyer will press the court with this information. Facts and evidence do not lie. They tell a story, and they prove things. Your lawyer might spend months gathering enough evidence to prove that you did not commit the crime.

3. Witness Testimony

Calling in witnesses can also be an essential part of a solid defense. Are there people who saw the incident? Do you know anyone with information about the crime? If you or your attorney can find witnesses with testimony that proves your innocence, you can subpoena them to court to provide information. When choosing witnesses, your attorney will ensure that they are credible, as this matters a lot in court.

4. Expert Witnesses

If necessary, your attorney might hire expert witnesses to assist in the case. Having an expert witness testify in court can help you prove your defense. This step is not always necessary, but it can be helpful in some cases.

5. Doubt

The final part of a solid case is finding ways to infuse doubt in the minds of the jurors or judge. If they are not completely certain that the defendant is responsible for the crime, they cannot legally prosecute. Doubt is a vital part of all criminal trials, and your lawyer can explain this in more detail if you have questions.  

Working with your lawyer is a great way to prepare for your upcoming trial. If you need a criminal defense attorney, find one today.

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