Nowhere Near The Crime Scene

Law Blog

If you've been charged with a crime, you may encounter some elements of the American justice system for the first time. It's important to realize that being accused of a crime is a devastating event, but being accused is far from the same thing as being convicted of that crime. The burden of proving that you did actually did commit a crime is on the prosecution, but that fact doesn't lessen the need to put up a sound and vigorous defense to the charge. Read on and learn a bit about one commonly used defensive action that might be used by your defense attorney when your day in court arrives.

Do you have an alibi? If you can show proof that you were unable to commit the crime due to being somewhere entirely different, your case may be a quick one. You must understand that your alibi should be verifiable; you cannot just say you were at home asleep alone at the time of the crime. Here are some common alibi situations that might have your charges dismissed in no time:

1. The presence of another party, preferably not one you have a familial or romantic relationship with. For example, a work supervisor may attest that the accused was in an after-work meeting at the time of the crime.

2. Video evidence that clearly shows the accused somewhere else, like a gym, work, or going through a tollbooth.

3. Digital evidence that shows that the accused was logged in on a computer or was admitted through a security checkpoint at the time of the crime.

4. A nosy neighbor testifies that the accused came home at a certain time and never left the house during the crime.

Alibi issues to understand: The prosecution will attempt to shoot down your alibi not only by casting doubt on it but by picking it apart. For example, they might try to show that you hired or coerced a third party into committing the crime in your stead. Of course, they would need show proof of this third-party activity.

Those who planned ahead to commit a crime may also have arranged to duck out of a party or other public activity just long enough to commit the crime. Take, for example, a pool party with lots of guests, and those guests mingled outside, inside and in the basement rec area. It might be difficult for any of those guests to say that they never lost sight of the accused during the several hours that the party took up.

If you've been accused of a crime, speak to a defense attorney about using not just the alibi defense, but many other defenses to prove your innocence. Check out a website like https://www.hurth.com/ for more information and assistance. 

 

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