The Alibi Defense In A Criminal Case

In criminal cases where a defendant has been apparently identified by witnesses or where evidence suggests that a particular defendant may have been the perpetrator, an alibi as a defense is commonly presented.

Introduction

In essence, the defendant is asserting that he could not have committed the crime because he was not at the scene when it occurred.  If presented as credible, this can be a powerful defense that can counter eyewitness testimony and circumstantial evidence that otherwise places you at the scene of the crime.

Also, unlike self-defense or insanity, alibi is not an affirmative defense, which would require you to prove your defense by the civil standard of a preponderance of the evidence.

This is often argued as proof that it is more likely than not that you acted in self-defense or lacked the mental capacity to have the requisite intent to be criminally liable.

For an alibi defense, though, you merely need to offer some evidence that is at least credible and which can place you at a different location when the crime occurred so that you could not have either been present or lacked the opportunity to commit the crime because you were engaged in some other activity¹.

How Is The Alibi Defense Presented?

In federal court and in many states, defendants have to notify the prosecutor in advance of trial that they intend to offer an alibi.

This includes informing the prosecution of what the alibi is and how they intend to prove it such as by certain identified witnesses.

California does not have a court rule that requires advance notice of an alibi, however, the courts have left it to the legislature to enact one per Reynold v. Superior Court². The legislature has not required such notice and some commentators have suggested that it would circumvent the defendant’s right against self-incrimination under the California Constitution.

In any criminal case, the prosecution has to turn over the evidence they have gathered in the case, whether incriminating or exculpatory. This includes statements of witnesses, medical records, photographs, investigative and police reports, and lab or testing results.

Likewise, defendants must turn over similar evidence including the names of witnesses they intend to call at trial. This gives the prosecution an opportunity to interview and take statements from these witnesses. Of course, some of these witnesses may be used to offer an alibi on behalf of the defendant.

Examples Of An Alibi Defense

Unless you are caught red-handed at the scene, most defendants will offer an alibi to show that because they were not at the scene at the time the crime was committed, they must be acquitted.

For instance, you are accused of murdering your spouse in your house and your fingerprints are found on a kitchen knife, that has been identified as the murder weapon.

You may argue that you used that knife for cooking purposes so it was not unusual for your prints to be there and you can show that you were not at the house at the time the coroner placed the time of death.

You may do this by introducing testimony from persons who were with you at the bowling alley. If there were video cameras there, you might obtain footage with the date and time stamped that place you at the bowling alley when the crime occurred.

Another scenario might be that neighbors heard you arguing with your spouse some time before the murder and that they recognized your voice. Your argument is that you left the house shortly thereafter and that your spouse has an intimate friend who should be a suspect.

And, you have an alibi because you can produce receipts from a gas station indicating the place and time where you were when the murder occurred or even video footage.

Credibility

An effective alibi needs to be credible. If you only present testimony from a family member or close friend or associate, a jury may question their credibility and assume their loyalty to you trumps the truth.

Having persons testify who either do not know you or have at least limited social associations or connections with you will appear much more credible to the jury or judge.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. In re Corey, 230 Cal.App.2d 813, 828 [↩]
2. Reynolds v. Superior Court, 12 Cal. 3d. 834, 529 P.2d 45 (1974). [↩]
3. U.S. v. Anderson, 654 F.2d 1264 (8th Cir. 1981 [↩]