Possible Defense Tactics for Domestic Violence Charges

Launching your defense against domestic violence charges is often a challenging prospect because of the nature of these charges. Oftentimes, the situation that leads to the charges is a private one, so the case comes down to your word against the alleged victim's work. Of course, the evidence in the case can also show what happened.

There are several tactics to evaluate when you are trying to determine which is the best one for your case. Remember that your defense must be factual and truthful.

First, the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were violent toward the victim. This can be particularly difficult, especially when the victim isn't willing to cooperate with the prosecution.

Second, some victims make false accusations to try to steer things pertaining to a divorce in their favor. If you are in a contentious divorce or battling over child custody, your attorney might explore ways to prove that this was done just to make you look bad.

Third, alleged victims can sometimes suffer injuries when they were actually the attacker. Claiming self-defense might be challenging in these cases, but it is often viable when the evidence supports the possibility.

In some cases, witness testimony can unearth the truth about what happened or at least call the prosecution's claims into question. As you work to develop your defense strategy, remember that you have to consider how the jurors might perceive each point. One thing to avoid is attacking the alleged victim in court because this could place you in an unfavorable light. Instead, it is best to focus on the situation and applicable points.