How to minimize the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses

After being charged with a criminal offense, you need to find ways to aggressively defend yourself. To do so, you’ll need to fully understand how the prosecution intends to pursue its case and the evidence it plans to use against you. Once you have that understanding you can then work to find ways to attack their case. One option at your disposal is addressing witness credibility.

Why does witness credibility matter?

Although every witness swears to tell the truth when testifying, not all testimony is honest and put in the proper context. But it’s up to you to highlight to the judge and jury why a witness’s testimony shouldn’t be fully trusted. Given that the judge or jury will decide your guilt based on that testimony, your ability to attack witness credibility can sway the outcome of your case.

How can you attack witness credibility?

You have several options. This includes:

• Pointing out prior statements the witness made that are inconsistent with their testimony at trial.
• Illustrating why the witness is biased against you and how that bias taints their account of events.
• Highlighting any motivations the witness might have to testify against you.
• Demonstrating that the witness has a criminal history indicative of a character that lacks truthfulness.
• Asking the court and the jury to take note of the witness’s demeanor while testifying.

Any one of these approaches could devastate the reliability of a witness’s testimony. This, in turn, could turn the tables in your criminal case.

Know how to build an aggressive criminal defense

Attacking witness credibility could be key in your case. Yet, it’s just one aspect of many that you need to address in your case. If you want to put forth a thorough, well thought out, and aggressive criminal defense, then be sure to take a holistic look at the facts of your case to find the criminal defense arguments that best position you for success.

 

Attorney Brad Hawley

Attorney Brad Hawley possesses years of practical experience focused on bankruptcy, civil and criminal defense. He has prosecuted and defended clients in state court, and is a former enlisted member of the United States Army. Brad is driven by his desire to help people that have been hurt by the legal system, and is dedicated to fixing injustices he sees around him. [ Attorney Bio ]