An assault and battery conviction can have serious consequences. You may be sentenced to jail, placed on probation, or ordered to pay a hefty fine.
If you have been charged with assault and battery, it’s important to contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. A defense attorney can help you build a case and may be able to get the charges reduced or dropped. They will be able to provide advice on what steps to take next and what to avoid to protect your rights.
Assault and Battery Defense Strategies
There are various strategies that an experienced criminal defense lawyer may use on behalf of a person accused of assault and battery charges. These strategies include:
- Self-defense. One of the most common assaults and battery defenses is self-defense— the argument that you acted to defend yourself from death or bodily harm. Your lawyer will need to provide evidence showing that you had a reasonable fear for your safety and that you only used necessary force to protect yourself. To qualify for self-defense, it needs to be established that you were acting in response to an immediate threat and that you were not the initial aggressor.
- Defense of Others. Similar to self-defense, this defense strategy may apply if you acted in defense of another person who was threatened or harmed. In order for this defense strategy to be successful, your lawyer will need to produce evidence demonstrating that you reasonably believed that another person was in danger and that use of force was necessary for their protection.
- Duress/Coercion. Duress is a defense where the defendant claims that another person forced them to commit the violent act. This defense might be applicable if a third party threatened or coerced the defendant into assaulting another individual.
- Lack of Intent. An experienced criminal defense lawyer may also argue that you lacked the intent to commit a crime. This could mean that you did not intend to cause harm to the victim or simply did not know that your actions would amount to assault and battery charges.
- Mental Illness/Lack of Mental State. You may also be able to argue that your mental capacity was diminished in some way when the assault took place. Your defense attorney may be able to demonstrate that you were suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the assault or mentally impaired through some other involuntary means that caused you to lack understanding or control over your behavior.
Contact a Qualified Attorney Licensed in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey
At The Brookman Law Group, we recognize the gravity of an assault and battery charge. You’ll need a competent, dedicated defense attorney to thoroughly examine your case and prepare the best applicable defense against the charges. That’s why we’re committed to working hard on your behalf in understanding your case and defending your rights. Contact us at (267) 566-5598 for a risk-free consultation.
We target Philadelphia, PA; Camden, NJ; Gloucester City, NJ; Chester, PA; Darby, PA; and the other surrounding communities.