In your criminal case, an expert witness could mean the difference between a felony conviction and a misdemeanor conviction. Occasionally at trial in Larimer, Jackson, and Boulder County, we need the help of a professional in order to establish the truth of our defense. We call these professionals “super witnesses” because their expert opinion has much more credibility with a jury. These super witnesses are often medical doctors, because the issue of Serious Bodily Injury (SBI) is a deciding factor in many cases such as Assault, Domestic Violence, or Child Abuse. Medical doctors can validate our defense and prove the innocence of our clients. Let’s dig a little deeper into this issue:
What is Serious Bodily Injury?
Serious Bodily Injury is: “Bodily injury which, either at the time of the actual injury or at a later time, involved a substantial risk of death, a substantial risk of serious permanent disfigurement, a substantial risk of protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body, or breaks, fractures, or burns of the second or third degree.”
This definition is critical in cases in Loveland, Fort Collins, and Estes Park, because when proof a Serious Bodily Injury occurred in a case, it greatly increases the severity of offense – it can mean the difference between jail time and a prison sentence.
Super Witness to the Rescue!
Let’s say a woman accuses her husband of Domestic Violence Assault. She has fractured ribs, and the District Attorney is claiming Serious Bodily Injury occurred. We could call an experienced doctor to examine the evidence in the case. The doctor looks at the photos and determines that the fractures occurred many months before the alleged crime. In other words, the wife (alleged victim) is lying about her husband (the defendant). An innocent man could go free because of the testimony of one super witness.
[pullquote align=”center” textalign=”center” width=”50%”]Juries love super witnesses, much like we all like superheroes. [/pullquote]Why Super Witnesses are Effective
Medical experts and other experts throughout Johnstown, Berthoud, and Windsor are often what makes or breaks a case. They can be expensive, but when their testimony validates key evidence in your defense, no price can be put on their worth. Juries are especially fond of these super witness (much like they are with superheroes), because their testimony is backed by years of experience and knowledge. When a case involves allegations of Serious Bodily Injury, we often turn to medical experts to save the day.