If you have been charged with a crime in North Carolina, it is likely that you will be thinking about what is the best way to defend yourself. Every person convicted of a crime has the right to defend themselves, and it is this right of defense that is necessary to make a fair decision.
As a defendant, you will develop your defense strategy alongside your criminal defense attorney. They will do this by learning as much as they can about your specific situation. It is good to have some ideas yourself about what your possible defenses are, especially since you will have the best understanding of what happened during the incident and what your intentions were.
The following are some of the most common defenses that have the potential to be used in a criminal defense case in North Carolina. You should consider which defenses might apply to your specific situation and weave it into your argument.
Demonstrating that you were not at the scene of the crime by proving that you were at a different location is known as having an alibi. This can possibly be achieved by having a witness testify to your location, or having some other proof that you could not have possibly been at the scene.
It is common for a person to be convicted of a crime, but there is lack of proof that the crime was committed by the individual. In any trial, you do not need to prove that you are innocent. As long as it cannot be proven that you were guilty, you cannot be charged with the crime.
If you were convicted of a crime such as assault, it may be true that you acted out of necessity to protect yourself from harm. Everyone has the right to take appropriate measures to protect themselves from violence or abuse.
If you have been accused of a criminal act, it is vital that you take action immediately in order to get the best possible defense.