Reasonable Doubt in a Criminal Case
If you are headed for a criminal trial, you probably already know that you must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury. What does that mean, and how can your attorney try to avoid that end?
Reasonable Doubt Explained
In a criminal court the prosecution has the burden of proof, meaning they are required to present proof that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In a nutshell, it means the jury must be absolutely convinced that you are guilty. If they do harbor any doubts as to your guilt, those doubts cannot be simply a matter of speculation. Rather, they must be rooted in common sense and reason. Evidence–or the lack thereof—all of which must have been weighed with care and impartially, must inform any jury decision. Short of finding reasonable doubt, a juror must find you guilty. What does that mean for your defense attorney?
Reasonable Doubt: a Legal Standard
Importantly, we must remember that the law considers you innocent until proven guilty. This cannot be emphasized enough, and proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt—an extremely high legal standard—is the burden of the prosecutor. Intended to protect innocents from wrongful conviction, the reasonable doubt standard can be difficult to achieve. As such, your defense attorney will batter the prosecution’s case from many directions in order to demonstrate that the prosecution did not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Some strategies might include:
- Describing a strong alibi for you that shows how and why you could not have committed the crime;
- Offering alternate narratives of the case by suggesting different timelines, suspects, or motivations that seem plausible;
- Questioning witness credibility by emphasizing hidden motivations, criminal history, or possible biases that might sway their testimony;
- Zeroing in on procedural errors made by police, such as issues with the legality of a search, a failure to Mirandize, or the corruption of evidence, for example;
- Challenging the analysis of the evidence by calling expert witnesses who interpret the it differently, or who question the reliability of the, or even the science behind the technology itself;
- Pointing to discrepancies in the prosecution’s case such as conflicting witness statements or ways in which various evidence suggests alternative conclusions;
- Highlighting the lack of convincing evidence provided by the prosecution, and maintaining that that the prosecution did not meet its burden of proof.
Goals
Certainly, as a defendant you are hoping and praying for an acquittal, which would allow you to go on with your life and put the whole legal hullabaloo behind you. But there are other favorable scenarios that are possible when a vigorous defense is presented:
- A Dismissal: The judge could rule that the prosecution simply will not be able to meet the high burden of proof and could thus dismiss the case before it ever gets to the jury.
- Plea Bargain: The prosecution could sense a shift in the jury toward the defense and offer an advantageous plea deal for you to consider.
Lobo Law Fights for You
The experienced Miami criminal defense attorneys at The Law Office of Julia Kefalinos always go to court prepared to battle it out for the best possible outcomes for you. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation in our Miami office today.
Source:
ce9.uscourts.gov/jury-instructions/node/338
