The Role of Expert Witnesses in Assault Trials

Expert witnesses can play a very important role in criminal trials, in general, for a variety of reasons. These types of witnesses may also play a role in assault trials, but that would vary on a case-by-case basis depending on the seriousness of the assault and the charges, the type of evidence related to the case, and the budget of the defence lawyer. In today’s blog article, we want to briefly discuss how and why expert witnesses can be important in an assault case.

Scientific Credibility

The first way an expert witness might be important is to establish scientific credibility. For example, some blood was found at the scene of this assault, and here is how we know with absolute certainty that the blood did not come from the defendant.

Making Scientific Evidence Understandable

Another way that expert witnesses might be used is to translate complicated scientific jargon into something understandable for the judge and/or the jury. The scientific concepts used in evidence may be hard to understand for the lay person. The expert witness—if he or she is any good—can turn this information into something anyone can understand.

Context and Interpretation

Sometimes in an assault trial or other criminal trial some evidence may be introduced by another witness that is just raw data. The expert witness can make sense of this data and explain it for all to understand.

Expert witnesses might be very important in an assault trial, but they are more likely to be used when the charges are serious, and the stakes are very high. The reason for this is because expert witnesses can be hard to find and expensive to fly them in to testify. So, the defence or the Crown are only going to use them if they are seriously needed to make a case. 

If you have been charged with assault, please contact Gagan Nahal for a free consultation in Vancouver at (604) 527-4769 as soon as possible. Mr. Nahal’s law practice focuses on criminal defence law, and he has extensive experience in this area of the law. 

Gagan Nahal is a criminal defence lawyer based in Surrey, British Columbia, although he has represented clients across Canada. He works vigorously and tirelessly defending his clients. 

If you have any questions about this article or you would like to talk to Mr. Nahal, please call him directly at (604) 527-4769.