There’s a reason no criminal case should be built primarily on eyewitness testimony: it’s untrustworthy. We have expert witnesses on standby at Chambers Law Firm who can assist in poking holes in inaccurate eyewitness testimony.
Continue reading to discover more about it, as well as the top five reasons of misidentification and how a criminal defense attorney in California may assist you if you have been charged with a crime. Then contact us at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation.
Misidentification of eyewitnesses is a serious problem
Although most individuals think that eyewitness misidentification is a terrible thing, many people feel it is not a prevalent problem. The truth is that misidentification is complicated by two factors. To begin with, a person who is not guilty of the offense may be penalized. Second, the criminal is not punished or apprehended, and he or she is free to commit future crimes.
When a witness sees a single person at the crime scene, in a voice lineup, or while identifying a person in court, they may misidentify a suspect in a lineup, while looking at a picture array, when seeing a single person at the crime scene, in a voice lineup, or when identifying a person in court. Misidentification occurs far more frequently than individuals assume, according to studies, and for a number of reasons.
The capacity of human memory is limited
It is difficult to recall everything that is seen, regardless of who is present. A person may get a glimpse of someone and use their memories to fill in aspects they didn’t see or recall, such as hair color, eye color, weight, or height. The individual might be very positive that they have a real recollection when, in fact, they don’t.
Witnesses are stressed and anxious
When a person observes a crime, it’s natural for them to feel anxious and stressed. This might lead to them making mistakes in their observations or later when recalling information.
Police officers can be deceptive
If the authorities feel they have located a guilty perpetrator, they may utilize deceptive or suggestive approaches to present a witness with suspects. An officer may, for example, accompany an eyewitness to a lineup and then provide subtle hints about who the witness should choose from the lineup.
Witnesses have prejudices
Whether we like it or not, we all have prejudices. Cross-biases, in which a person is more likely to remember faces of their own race, may be a major problem, leading to misidentification and criminal accusations.
The predisposition to concentrate on weapons
If a weapon was used in the crime, it is usual for witnesses to focus on the weapon rather than the suspect. As a result, witnesses are frequently able to describe a weapon in great detail, even when they are unable to identify the real culprit.
If you have been charged with a crime, contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to request a free legal consultation. We are standing by to help you find the best outcome to your case.
