Criminal Charges Defence Strategy: Methods to Establish Reasonable Doubt, Among Other Means

Question: What defence strategies are available when fighting a criminal charge in Ontario?

Answer: In Ontario, Reznik Legal Services provides paralegal services that can help you assess the allegations and disclosure, challenge the strength, reliability, or admissibility of the evidence, and pursue options such as Charter-based arguments, identification issues, or negotiating a resolution where appropriate.  The right strategy depends on the specific charge, the facts, and the evidence, so getting a case-specific review early can help you protect your rights and avoid missteps like an uninformed guilty plea.

Defence Strategies Available When Fighting Criminal Charges

Criminal charges are the most serious charges a person can face whereas penalties involving fines or jail terms or both may be significant.  Additionally, upon a finding of guilt and resulting conviction, a person will be subjected to a stigmatizing criminal record, potentially resulting in employment difficulties, possible restrictions upon travel into the United States, among other consequences.

Available Defence Strategies

The best options for a defence strategy when fighting back against criminal charges will depend upon the particular criminal charges that an accused person is facing as well as the nature and strength of the evidence.  Accordingly, choosing the best defence strategy, or a combination of defence strategy options, will require a careful review of the actual case details.

To assist in determine an appropriate defence strategy, a professional legal representative:

• Will review the specific allegations;
• Will carefully review the incident details;
• Will thoroughly review the available evidence;
• Will diligently review the applicable law;
• Will helpfully explain the strategy options; and
• Will responsibly adjust the strategy, if necessary.

With a strong understanding of the legal system including the various nuances and potential pitfalls that commonly arise, a qualified legal professional can meticulously analyze the case specifics, the available evidence, the relevant strategies, to help select an appropriate manner of defence so to best protect the rights of the accused persons