Domestic Violence Defences
Self defence is one of the most challenging aspects to domestic violence. It is common for a domestic argument to involve violence perpetrated by both parties; therefore, it is difficult to know who the victim is and who the perpetrator is. Self defence means a proportionate response to violence to diffuse a threat of harm. The level of violence required to diffuse the threat is different depending on the situation.
For example, an individual may punch their partner in the face and their partner may need to defend themselves. Their defence may be to punch back which would be a proportionate response however to stab the individual would be a disproportionate response. Further criminal charges can also result including grievous bodily harm and assault.
False Accusations
In many instance, if not all, the alleged perpetrator will deny the existence of violence. There is a percentage of family violence cases which are false but it can be difficult to know whether the violence has or has not occurred. Physical violence has a higher chance of being proven given its nature and the usual existence of physical evidence (i.e. bruising, lacerations, etc).
Emotional or psychological violence however, is not as easily proven and it can be word against word. It can therefore be easy for an alleged victim to make a false allegation and have domestic violence charges laid. A domestic violence conviction can result in lifelong consequences which follow and individual.
For example, an individual could be accused of calling their partner a “fucking bitch” and making verbal threats to kill them. These threats could have created a genuine fear of harm which is simply word against word because there is no hard evidence of the threat. The threat could have severely impacted the life of the victim because they have increased anxiety and fear, yet they will have difficulty proving that this is the case.
Insufficient Evidence
A domestic violence case is ultimately dependent on evidence and sometimes, no matter the honesty of the victim, the evidence simply does not exist. A large amount of domestic violence is perpetrated in private, without witnesses, and there is no record. Emotional or psychological abuse for example is perpetrated in subtle ways which may not even be apparent to a close family member.
Most domestic violence of this nature makes its way to the surface through family law such as a custody case where behavior is more easily observed. Violence can manifest in ways which are not physical and victims have difficulty explaining the impact the behavior is having.
Having a domestic violence matter dismissed due to a lack of evidence however is no guarantee. More evidence may become available and the charges could be laid again. Each domestic violence case only needs to pass the test of beyond a reasonable doubt
Criminal Justice System
Domestic Violence Trial
If you have been charged with a domestic violence offence and have chosen to plead not guilty then your matter will proceed to trial. A trial is a process whereby the evidence is presented and tested to determine guilt. It is an expensive and time-consuming legal process.
A domestic violence trial under criminal law will be heard in the appellate court, local court or supreme court depending on the severity. A trial in the Supreme Court will be subject to a jury determination. It is the role of the prosecution to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Domestic Violence cases heard in the Family Court however are different.
No criminal charges can result from a family court trial alone as it is a completely different jurisdiction. If an individual has been accused of domestic violence then this can have flow on effects for their family law matters. A domestic violence charge can indicate risk to either their spouse, partner or child and the court must determine the best course for the family using the best interests principle.
Procedural Errors
Procedural errors are one of the leading causes of mistrials. A mistrial occurs when the trial or evidence has been compromised in some way and it would be prejudicial to continue. A procedural error may be due to contamination of evidence, property damage or evidence being brought before the court and jury which needs to be disregarded.
A procedural error can cause a miscarriage of justice if for some reason the prosecution is unable to retry the case at a later date. You should seek legal advice before making any procedural arguments to ensure correct interpretation of legislation, policies and processes. Both police, the court and each individual lawyer will have policies and processes which need to be followed.
For example, there may be evidence such as hair, DNA or clothing which was confiscated from the scene at the time police attended. If this evidence is not properly handled appropriately and the chain of custody is broken then the evidence may be considered inadmissible.
