To be convicted of criminal charges, the prosecutor is required to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This is the highest standard in American law, and the defendant in a criminal case can mount a defense meant to raise reasonable doubt. Most criminal defenses fall into two categories: “I did not commit the crime” and “I did it, but I should not be held liable”. Below we will explain these two defenses and how a Criminal Lawyer in Lebanon can apply them to a case.
“I Didn’t Commit the Crime”
A basic defense to a criminal charge is to prove that you did not commit the act. One of the tenets of American justice is that defendants are innocent until proven guilty. Defendants can invoke their 5th Amendment rights, and can still win their cases without providing a bit of evidence to support their claims of innocence.
Prosecutors must demonstrate to the judge and jury that the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If any doubt exists, the prosecution fails and a defendant is found innocent. Because the standard of proof is high, many defendants focus on raising reasonable doubt.
Defendants typically prove that they didn’t commit the crime by providing an alibi. This defense is evidence that the defendant was somewhere else at the time the crime was committed.
“I Did it, But I’m Not Responsible for my Actions”
Many defendants admit to committing crimes, but claim for various reasons that they should not be held liable.
Self defense is common when someone is charged with a violent crime such as an assault or battery. Defendants demonstrate that they were the victim rather than the aggressor. Proving such a case can be difficult, because defendants must demonstrate that self-defense was the only reasonable course of action.
Insanity defenses make for interesting TV shows, but the defense is rarely used in real life. Judges and juries are skeptical of insanity defenses, and they are difficult to prove. The theory behind the defense is that in criminal law, there is an element of intent. If a defendant has a mental illness and cannot understand that what they did is wrong, they can plead insanity. If an insanity defense is successful, the defendant is sent to a psychiatric institution.
By demonstrating that the defendant was not present at the scene of the crime, the Law Offices of Sodomsky and Nigrini can create reasonable doubt.
