A lot of criminal cases result in plea deals. This is understandable. After all, in many instances the evidence stacked against an accused individual may seem insurmountable. But just because the prosecution has a lot of evidence against you doesn’t mean that you should just let them push you around and pressure you into a plea agreement. Instead, before accepting one of these offers, you should carefully analyze the facts of your case as well as the evidence possessed by the prosecution to see if there’s a way to minimize or even suppress harmful evidence. Doing so could lead to dismissed charges or an acquittal.
Addressing witness credibility
One way to protect your interests in a criminal case is to attack the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses. Successfully doing so may sway the judge or jury to give that testimony less weight, which could sow reasonable doubt in the minds of those who will determine your guilt or innocence.
How do you attack witness credibility? You might have several options at your fingertips. To start, you can try to use any inconsistent statements made by the witness. This often occurs when a witness gives testimony at a deposition, then changes his or her story at trial. You can also utilize any bias or motivation, such as when a witness takes a plea deal in exchange for testifying against you. Even a witness’s own criminal history can be relevant to your case. For example, if a witness has a prior conviction for fraud, then the judge or jury will likely have questions as to the reliability of that witness’s testimony.
Building the thorough criminal defense you need
To maximize your chances of success, you need to develop a holistic criminal defense strategy. While taking a plea deal might ultimately be in your best interests, you shouldn’t do so until you know where your case stands and your likelihood of success at trial. If you’d like assistance in analyzing your case can building the best criminal defense arguments possible under the circumstances, then think about reaching out to a legal team that is experienced and proven successful.