Long after you’ve been read your Miranda Rights and asked for your attorney, a defendant in a criminal case may need to mount an affirmative defense which rests on an alibi. A strong alibi could be the difference between going free or going to prison. Understanding the elements contributing to a strong alibi is sometimes essential for your defense.
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4 Key Factors for a Strong Alibi
1. Credible Eyewitnesses
One of the most critical elements for a strong alibi is having people who can attest to where you were at a given time. These individuals must be people that can be brought to a witness stand and be convincing to at least one juror. If your alibi rests on you being at work during the crime, being able to call on your boss or other coworkers can help strengthen your defense.
2. Documentation
Beyond having people vouch for your whereabouts, having paperwork that corroborates your alibi plays a significant role in improving your defense. Receipts, parking stubs, or notes from your doctor could be used to verify where you were, rather than where the prosecution is suggesting you were.
3. Additional Evidence
Modern technology allows for many other forms of evidence which can contribute to a strong alibi. The GPS on your phone or car can pinpoint your exact location at any time within several feet. Surveillance cameras are commonplace in public and offer an excellent opportunity to show where you were and when.
4. Other Considerations
Building a strong alibi requires gathering the right evidence and crafting a consistent narrative. If you can’t put your evidence in a way a jury can understand, it won’t do you much good. For this reason, it’s crucial to make sure you have the right defense attorney who can help make sense of your story.
