In Pennsylvania and throughout the country, millions of people were recently following a widely publicized criminal trial against a young man who was facing numerous charges in connection with an incident that took place at a Black Lives Matter protest. As most people do when they are charged with crimes, such as illegal possession of a firearm and homicide, the defendant in this case secured legal representation right away. His attorneys acted as a personal advocate in court, stating that he had acted in self-defense.
After weeks of testimony and days of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict
When a verdict from the jury was finally read in court, the defendant and all others who were listening in and outside the courtroom learned the 12 jury members were convinced that the prosecution had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not acting in self-defense when he shot three men who were assaulting him at the time. Two of the men were fatally injured and the third testified in court. In his testimony, he confirmed the defense attorney’s assertion that it was only after he had moved toward the defendant with a gun pointed at him that the defendant dislodged his own firearm. In the end, the jury found the defendant not guilty on all charges.
“Self-defense” is one of many defense strategies often used after a shooting
An experienced criminal law attorney is a great asset to a person who is facing criminal charges. Such an attorney can spot holes in a prosecutor’s case. For instance, in the case mentioned earlier, the defendant was accused of illegal possession of a firearm. However, his attorneys pointed out that, in the state where the incident took place, the defendant was legally permitted to possess the type of firearm he was carrying that night.
Any person who becomes subject to a criminal investigation in Pennsylvania may request legal representation. In fact, such a person does not have to answer questions under interrogation with the benefit of a defense attorney’s presence. If someone facing charges has questions regarding how to prove that he or she acted in self-defense, a legal consultation can be scheduled to discuss the matter.