It’s sad that there are instances in which innocent people are convicted of crimes they didn’t commit.
If you’ve been charged with assault in Houston, the fact that you’re innocent may not be enough to get the charges dropped. A Harris County DA wouldn’t file charges if they didn’t think they had enough evidence to convince a jury that you are guilty.
Innocent or not, you’re in a lot of trouble. The first thing you should do if you’ve been charged with assault or any other crime in Houston, is hire a skilled Houston criminal defense attorney to represent you. It’s never a good idea to represent yourself in a criminal matter, no matter what the circumstances.
Your attorney will be able to examine the evidence against you, as well as the details of your arrest. It may be that law enforcement violated your rights during the arrest. They’ll also investigate your case to uncover any evidence — such as witnesses to the alleged crime — that will show you are innocent of the charges.
How a Defense Witness Can Help Prove Your Innocence
Eyewitness testimony can be vital to building a strong defense.
Assault charges are often based on he said/she said accounts given to law enforcement. Many arrests for assault in Houston result from accusations made after a heated emotional exchange. This emotional turmoil may cause the victim to “embellish” facts about the details of the assault. These statements may not paint a totally accurate picture of the events that led up to your arrest.
Any witnesses to the altercation could provide a more impartial version of what actually happened during the alleged assault, such as that you were actually acting in self-defense.
In a case of mistaken identity, a witness could testify that you were somewhere else at the time the assault took place.
While the DA almost never drops an assault charge at the victim’s request, a victim may have a change of heart and be persuaded to testify on your behalf.
The prosecution will have their own witnesses as well, and it’s the job of a defense attorney to cast doubts as to the accuracy of the witness’ recollection of the events that led to the assault charges.
Houston Criminal Defense Attorney Protects the Innocent
There are few situations in life more frightening than being charged with a crime you didn’t commit.
If you have been charged with assault or another crime, it’s important to take immediate action to protect your rights. Being found guilty of assault charges could have a huge negative impact on your life, resulting in jail time and/or fines and making it difficult to obtain a job, housing or education.
You can trust leading Houston assault attorney Lisa Shapiro Strauss to put all her legal skills and knowledge to work proving your innocence. Remember, the burden of proving that you are guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt belongs to the prosecutor. As a former prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney, Lisa has extensive experience when it comes to poking holes in a DA’s case, including the effective use of eyewitness testimony to cast doubt in the jury’s mind about the state’s case against you.
If you’ve been charged with felony or misdemeanor assault in Houston, reach out to the law offices of Houston assault lawyer Lisa Shapiro Strauss to schedule a free consultation.
