At Lotze Mosley, LLP, our Washington D.C. and Maryland criminal defense attorneys know that being charged with a domestic violence crime can have far-reaching personal, professional, and social consequences.
With our experienced criminal defense team leading your case, we can help you identify all possible defense strategies that will allow you to move forward with confidence.
While all domestic violence cases are unique and require a complete legal investigation before we can design our client’s defense, to follow are some common examples of domestic violence defense strategies.
The Incident Was the Result of Self Defense
Domestic violence charges often stem from deeply personal relationships that can quickly become heated, and lead to irrational behavior.
If you must defend yourself from an attack from someone you have a personal or familial relationship with, you may have a legal justification for what happened.
That may include proving the other party was the initial aggressor or caused the level of violence to escalate, or because you had an actual and reasonable fear of imminent harm from the other party.
When skilled domestic violence defense attorneys in Washington D.C. can demonstrate that our clients used a reasonable degree of force to defend themselves — given the circumstances — instead of excessive force, the accused often has a compelling argument in these complex cases.
The Charges Stem From False Accusations
False accusations of domestic violence are common in both Washington D.C. and Maryland.
Typically, they stem from another family incident that makes the accuser feel like they need to assert control over the relationship. While ill-advised, it happens quite often.
This could mean false allegations during divorce proceedings, or intentionally hurting someone by having them charged with a crime. However these charges occur, they are often the result of an unstable or vindictive person making the claim.
The Harm Was the Result of a Consensual Act
When partners or spouses participate in consensual intimate relationships, their behaviors and actions can become physical — even causing harm to one of them. While this may be normal activity and fully consensual, if the injured party decides to accuse the other of domestic violence, the alleged abuser will need to prove that is not true or potentially face the consequences.
We can help ensure your side of the story is told.
When our clients know their complete legal rights and options, they better understand the range of defense strategies that are available for their unique cases.
Contact our experienced criminal defense attorneys in Washington D.C. and Maryland at Lotze Mosley, LLP to determine the best course of action for your unique case by calling (202) 393-0535 today.
