Should You Testify in Your Criminal Case?
If you’ve been charged with a crime, you might be thinking of testifying at your trial. You might also think that there is no harm in testifying since you’re innocent.
However, you should always consider hiring a criminal defense lawyer whenever or not you’re thinking of testifying or not. Deciding between testifying or not testifying is one of the most important decisions that you’ll have to make. You can therefore sit with your criminal defense lawyer and evaluate your options. You can read more here about this topic.
However, here are some reasons to why you shouldn’t testify in a criminal case against you.
There is No Need of Testifying
First of all, keep in kind that there is no need for you to testify. You can avoid the witness chair, as it is your basic right to not speak if you think that your own words can be used against you. So, you have the right to stay silent whenever you seem necessary.
You Might Say Something Wrong
Even after preparing well for the testimony, you might say the wrong thing when testifying in the court. The circumstances are very different when you’re under oath in a courtroom with your future on the line. Any wrong thing that slips out of your mouth might sit in jurors’ minds, and might cost you for a long time to come.
The Jury Might Not Believe You
Even if your testimony is based solely on truth, the jury still might not believe you. While jurors are supposed to remain impartial, some might still have biases against the defendants just because they are changed with a crime. Additionally, if you’re recognized by the jury is a liar, they might shift their favor against you by thinking that you’re at fault.