Domestic violence charges can have serious consequences, including jail time and impacting your ability to work or be around loved ones. When you face these charges, you should understand your options for defense.
There are several strategies that could help you fight domestic violence charges.
1. Was it self-defense?
If you were protecting yourself from harm when the alleged incident occurred, emphasizing this may strengthen your case. To prove self-defense, you must show that you had a reasonable fear of imminent injury. Providing evidence of prior abuse may support an argument that your actions were solely defensive.
2. Are the accusations malicious?
If you believe the accuser is deliberately fabricating allegations out of ill will, highlighting their potential motive could undermine their credibility. Focus on presenting facts that reveal holes or inconsistencies in their story or illustrating the motivation and any threats they made against you.
3. Is there insufficient evidence?
Carefully examine the prosecution’s evidence and testimony. If their case relies on weak evidence such as unsupported witness statements, highlight how it does not definitively prove the accusations. Poking holes in their version of events may create reasonable doubt.
4. Did the police arrest the wrong person?
If you have an alibi or evidence proving you were elsewhere at the time of the alleged incident, insist it was a case of mistaken identity. Offer witnesses, receipts or phone records that place you away from the scene.
There were more than 1.3 million domestic violence cases filed in 2022. While wrongful accusations may be the minority in those cases, they do occur. Defending yourself against wrongful domestic violence charges is easier when you consider these options.