Getting Self-Defense Evidence Ready For Trial

FIVE GOALS FOR GETTING SELF DEFENSE EVIDENCE READY FOR TRIAL

Texas self defense law can be very helpful to the criminal lawyer who is planning on using self-defense to defend a murder or assault allegation. After the criminal lawyer has completed his investigation of the self-defense facts he then must get prepared to get that evidence before a jury. As the trial date nears the lawyer should the accomplish the following 5 goals in order to present the self-defense evidence to a jury:

1. Interview the Witnesses. After interviewing the client and locating all relevant reports the criminal lawyer should interview all relevant witnesses. An investigator can be locate the witnesses and conduct an initial interview but he lawyer should always conduct his own interview.

2. Prepare Witnesses. As the trial date nears the witnesses who will be called to testify should be prepared for their testimony. This requires more interviews. The criminal attorney should walk them through their direct testimony and prepare them for cross-examination.

3. Visit the Scene. The criminal lawyer should always visit the scene of the incident if at all possible. I don’t care how many photographs were taken of the crime scene a lawyer can always learn something more if they actually visit the crime scene. If the defendant is on bond then he should accompany the lawyer. If there are defense witnesses who witnessed the incident have them come to the crime scene also. This will help both the lawyer and the witnesses at trial.

4. Subpoena the Witnesses. No matter how cooperative witnesses have been during the investigation, when the trial date nears the attorney should serve the witnesses with subpoenas. That is the only way the lawyer can forcefully bring a witness to court if the witnesses fails to show up.

5. Subpoena all Documents. All documents the criminal lawyer needs for trial should be subpoenaed. The attorney should also either subpoena witnesses who can sponsor these documents or file business affidavits that will allow the documents to be admitted into evidence.