https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/nyregion/charges-against-strauss-kahn-dismissed.html?_r=1&hp
Credibility is everything in a criminal trial. Cases are routinely brought to trial or dismissed based upon the reputation and credibility of the witnesses involved. One of the best ways to attack a witnesses’ credibility is to show that he or she has a financial interest in the outcome of the trial. This week, lawyers for former International Monetary Fund Director Dominique Stauss-Kahn were able to get his case dismissed by doing just that. In May of this year, Nafissatou Diallo, a hotel maid, accused Strauss-Kahn of raping her while she was attempting to clean his hotel room. It was later shown both that Diallo had lied about being raped in the past (in her native Guinea), and that after the incident with Strauss-Kahn she had a conversation with an incarcerated inmate about how she could exploit her current situation for financial benefit. Faced with evidence like that, prosecutors for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office felt they had no choice but to dismiss all charges.
Every person accused of a crime deserves to have his or her attorney conduct a thorough investigation. You do not have to be a politician like Dominique Strauss-Kahn to deserve that. False accusations of criminal conduct are made for all sorts of reasons. In family violence cases, the complaining witness often thinks that making an accusation of domestic violence or child molestation will give him or her the upper hand in a divorce or child custody battle. In other types of cases, the complaining witness simply hopes to profit financially from the accusation. But regardless of the motivation, it is up to the defense attorney to do his or her homework, and make sure that judges and juries hear ALL the facts.
If you or a loved one has been accused of assault, you need an experienced attorney on your side. Call the Law Offices of The Law Office of Matthew D. Sharp today for your free consultation.
