When someone is prosecuted for a crime, they must be proven guilty without reasonable doubt. Below is a list of 5 common defenses used by defendants in criminal cases.
- “I didn’t do it.” The presumption of innocence means that the defendant is innocent until the point of conviction. The prosecutor must convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty. This is also where an alibi might come into play. The defense can claim that their client could not have committed the crime because he or she was somewhere else or with someone else when the crime occurred.
- “It was self-defense.” The defense may say that they did in fact commit the crime, but that it was in response to the other person’s actions.
- “I wasn’t in my right mind.” A defendant may state that they were insane and unable to control their actions at the time of the crime. This is an extremely complex issue and can also be difficult to prove.
- “I was under the influence.” Many defendants argue that their mental functioning was impaired due to being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, this normally won’t excuse the criminal’s actions – though it may help reduce the sentence.
- “It was entrapment.” This occurs when one party coerces an individual to commit a crime. Entrapment is extremely difficult to prove.
For more in-depth information about these criminal defenses and other important legal issues, read this article.