There is no doubt that facing a criminal charge can be overwhelming to say the least. As such, if you have been charged with a criminal offense, it is critical that you come up with a strong and effective defense.
Depending on the nature of the crime you have been accused of committing, some of the defense strategies you can explore include entrapment, arguing self-defense or establishing an alibi.
So what is an alibi and how do I raise one?
Simply put, an alibi is the evidence that the accused person could not have committed the crime in question because they were at a different location when the said crime occurred. For instance, Jerry is charged with sexually assaulting Kate. Jerry provides evidence that he was away with his family at the movie the day and the time when Kate claims she was sexually assaulted.
What evidence do you need to raise an alibi?
Proof of an alibi can vary depending on the nature of the alibi as well as what and who can be used to corroborate it. Here are the kinds of evidence that you can use to support your alibi claim:
- Time-stamped photographs and video footage of the accused person at a different location when the crime took place. These are great alibi because they are objective evidence.
- A documented evidence of the accused person at a different location. These can include admission records if the defendant was at the hospital when the crime occurred or receipts indicating that the accused person was out shopping at the time of the crime. GPS and telephone records or credit card swipe records may also be used as an alibi.
- Witness testimony in support of the alibi. This can be extremely helpful when the accused person has a credible witness who can vouch for their whereabouts at the time the said crime took place. It works even better if the witness does not have any relations with the accused person.
Facing a criminal offense is no child play. Find out how you can explore your defense options and protect your rights when facing a criminal charge.