When can an Arizona court admit evidence regarding a previous, seemingly unrelated offense during criminal proceedings? The answer is tricky, as there are multiple exceptions to the rule of evidence indicating that testimony about a prior bad act is inadmissible during trial. One such exception is when the evidence speaks to a party’s motive, opportunity,…
Continue reading ›A common theme in Arizona domestic violence prosecutions involves the changing stories and testimonies of alleged domestic violence victims as a case progresses toward prosecution and conviction. Often, complaining victims may exaggerate or fabricate evidence of domestic violence in response to a domestic altercation, or to offset allegations of violence against themselves when law enforcement…
Continue reading ›Profiling evidence is sometimes used by the prosecution to help jurors decide on the facts as well as credibility of witnesses.
Profiling expert testimony is not always admissible and is a decision for the court. Consideration is based upon the rules of criminal evidence, and the content of the expert witness’s planned testimony. If improper witness testimony is admitted, it can potentially lead to an unfair guilty verdict.
Arizona Courts may also consider admissibility of “cold” witness testimony in which an expert offers an opinion on general principles without applying them to the facts of a case. This article takes a closer look at the admissibility of “cold” expert testimony and profiling evidence in the prosecution of domestic violence charges..
In this article, we will discuss four types of criminal charges often associated with domestic disputes that put a person at risk for harm or fatality, risk factors, and criminal defense topics. Any one or more of these criminal charges, in absence of injury can be life altering.
Convictions can jeopardize your freedom, leaving you with a long standing criminal record. The four types of charges often coupled with domestic violence crimes are weapons misconduct, aggravated assault, disobeying police orders, and domestic violence charges.
Domestic Violence Charges The police and prosecution take domestic violence very serious. They egregiously pursue convictions in these cases because they are considered to be a crime against a victim. Domestic violence refers to a familial relationship. The victim may be a spouse, partner, brother, sister, grandparent, child, or other persons residing together. Police have…
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