Criminal defense law is very important if you've been accused of a crime. While you may be able to defend yourself because you feel you have a strong explanation, having the right people on your side to make a better case can help, too. Knowing some common defense techniques may be of benefit to you, so you can plan your defense strategy.
The most common defense for any criminal case is that the prosecution isn't able to prove you were at fault beyond a reasonable doubt. That means that even if you did take part in the crime, there wasn't enough evidence to prove it. Questioning witness credibility and the truthfulness of the prosecution is one way to help a defendant -- that's you -- get a lighter sentence or have the case dropped all together.
Exposing police mistakes can help as well. Here's an example: If you weren't tested within an appropriate time frame for your blood alcohol content but you've still been issued a DUI, you can argue that the police made a mistake while testing you and that the tests are inaccurate. Since it's too late to test you now, if you can show that the mistake took place, it's possible to get your case dropped.
Mounting a successful defense can be reliant on your ability to challenge the believability of the story. Why couldn't the story the prosecution tells be true? Do you have an alibi? Were you too weak to perform the crime? Explain why you're not to blame, and you'll be a step closer to a lesser sentence or none at all.
Source: CliffsNotes, "Defense Strategies," accessed June 24, 2015