Divorce and separation can take a toll on relationships. Victims, usually spouses and partners, often accuse their respective partners of domestic violence, even when there is no strong evidence. If you are facing similar charges in New Jersey, you have to do everything possible to defend yourself. Because you are not a legal expert, start by looking for a domestic violence lawyer near me. Criminal defense lawyers know exactly how to evaluate the prosecution’s case and will investigate in detail to find evidence. Strategies may vary by case; to your knowledge, we have listed a few below.
- Fake accusation: If there is no evidence of domestic violence or the victim doesn’t have enough details to supplement the accusations, your lawyer will use that against them. Criminal lawyers can find contradictions and other inconsistencies in the accuser’s version of the story and argue accordingly.
- Self-defense: At times, people reach in self-defense. For instance, if your partner was being violent and you restored to protecting yourself, which led to their injuries, your lawyer can state that no domestic violence was committed. Witnesses and video footage are particularly useful in such cases.
- There was no intent: You must understand that domestic violence is intentional. For example, if you were dining in the same restaurant as your spouse and they accuse you of stalking or harassing them, you know there is no case. Your lawyers will work accordingly to strengthen the case.
- Facts were exaggerated: It is common for people to exaggerate facts and how things unfolded. What may have been a minor altercation could be portrayed as something serious. In a he said/she said situation, your lawyer can extensively change the dynamics by presenting video footage and witnesses.
- Alibi: Let’s say the victim said you abused them, but you were at a completely different place and time when the incident happened. It might not be a case of domestic violence, and your lawyer may have witnesses, receipts, and video footage of you being somewhere else.
- Your rights were violated: At times, the conduct of law enforcement could be questionable. For instance, the police may not have adhered to the protocols or lacked the evidence required to arrest you.
As long as you have a competent attorney to help you further, you always have a way to defend yourself. Don’t hesitate to ask relevant questions and meet the lawyer in person. You can find criminal lawyers in New Jersey through Google and other references.