If you’ve been charged with a felony, then the prosecution probably has a number of witnesses lined up ready to testify against you. That’s a scary situation to be in, especially considering the penalties that may be imposed on you if you’re convicted.
But you shouldn’t write off your defense just because the prosecution has some strong witnesses. Instead, you’ll just need to work harder to figure out a way to minimize the impact of those witnesses’ testimony. One way to do so is to find ways to attack witness credibility.
Ways to attack witness credibility
How the judge and jury view witness testimony can be pivotal to your case. That’s why it’s imperative that you attack the credibility and reliability of the prosecution’s witnesses every chance you get. Here are some ways to do that:
- Point out inconsistencies between depositional testimony and trial testimony, or other prior inconsistent statements that draw reliability into question
- Highlight any motive or bias that may influence the witness’s testimony
- Point out any criminal history that may be indicative of the witness’s poor character for truthfulness
- Show that the witness’s perception are inaccurate or untrustworthy
- Portray the witness’s demeanor in a way that renders what he or she say less credible
Keep in mind that these are just some of the ways that you can go about addressing the prosecution’s testimonial evidence. Depending on the facts of your case, you may have other options.
Leave no stone unturned in the development of your criminal defense
There’s certainly a lot on the line when you’re facing felony charges. That’s why you need to ensure that you exploit every opportunity possible to poke holes in the prosecution’s case and maximize your chances of obtaining an acquittal. If you’d like to learn more about how to do that, then we encourage you to continue to browse our website.