There are times you may have a reason to believe that a witness for a case is lying. Of course, having a reason to believe a witness is lying may not be something you can use in court without any evidence. The following are a few ways you may be able to create doubt on the statement of a witness.
Canvas the Area for Additional Witnesses
There are many reasons that a witness may not come forward at the time an incident occurred, so it is often helpful to ask people who were at the scene if they saw anything. If there were police at the scene, they may have had a limited amount of time, and may not have been able to do a thorough job of discovering everyone who may have seen something.
In addition, often interviewing a witness a second time may produce additional information that may be helpful to your case. Sometimes people feel as if they are being interrogated by a police officer. A private investigator can be hired to do this work for you. Our questioning techniques help to put a person at ease, so they can provide as much information as possible.
Look for Inconsistencies In a Witness’s Statement
A private investigator can ask questions in a way that may produce inconsistencies between the individual’s statement of what they saw and the physical evidence that is available. We can also use our ability to ask questions in such a way that if a witness is lying, their answers will produce subtle, but contrary assertions. Though these apparent inconsistencies in a witness statement are not always conclusive proof of lying, you may be able to exploit this when in court or even during negotiations with the opposing legal counsel.
Have a Background Check Done
Running a background check is a routine service of a private investigation firm. There are many reasons for doing this. One is to discover any potential problems in an individual’s past before a business hires a person. Equally important is the background of a witness that may be lying and whose testimony will hurt your client.
The opposite can also be helpful to know as well. If you are depending upon the testimony of a witness, but have concerns that their story is not 100 percent reliable, the opposing attorney may find this out and hurt your case in court. A private investigator can run a legal background check to determine if there is anything suspicious that relates directly to the reliability of a witness.
The key to getting the assistance you need in uncovering the truth about your suspicions of a witness lying is to employ the services of a private investigator. Although we may not be able to prove a witness is lying outright, we may be able to gather enough information to establish reasonable doubt about the reliability of a witness. Give us a call, and let us know the circumstances surrounding a witness that you suspect may be lying, and we can explain how our services can help you.
Bruce Robertson
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