Domestic Violence Expert Witnesses Can Help Win Cases

Posted on: 6 December 2022

Domestic violence or intimate partner violence is something that affects people no matter what their income range, gender, or who they are. No one deserves to be in a dangerous relationship. When domestic violence cases go to court it can be difficult because it turns into a "he said, she said" kind of case. If you are a victim of domestic violence and your abuser is on trial for abuse, the prosecutor in the case may bring in a domestic violence expert witness to help the jury understand. There are several reasons to have a domestic violence expert come and testify on your behalf.

Domestic Violence Definition

One problem with prosecuting domestic violence cases is that domestic violence has many forms. While you may think that domestic violence is merely physical, it goes much further. For example, things like financial abuse — where money is withheld from one member of a relationship — or emotional abuse are parts of domestic violence as well. The expert can get on the stand and explain exactly what defines domestic violence. That can help the jury because it can show them aspects of intimate partner violence that they did not know existed. It can also help your case because the expert can tie your experience to the definition of domestic violence.

Answer Why Did They Stay

The big question everyone has when it comes to a domestic violence case is why did the person stay. There are many, many reasons why a person may stay in a violent relationship. No two people will have the exact same reasons to have stayed in that relationship. The expert witness can help clear up and answer that question in a way that will let the jury understand the motivations of the victim. That can help the jury put themselves in the place of the victim and try to figure out what they would do if they were in that kind of relationship. It can be very easy to blame the victim for what happened to them because they could have left at any time but it isn't always that easy and the expert witness can explain why it isn't that easy.

Domestic violence and intimate partner violence happens to all genders, races, sexualities, classes, and income levels. There is no one who is completely free from the risk of being abused by their partner. If you have been abused by your partner and you are going to court over it, make sure that there is a domestic violence expert witness who is on your side to help the prosecutor or attorney on your side with your case.

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