Mistaken identity

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into actual innocence. (Discuss)

This article concerns the criminal defense; for other uses, see Mistaken Identity (disambiguation)

Criminal defenses

Part of the common law series
See also Criminal law and procedure
Insanity · Mental disorder
Diminished responsibility
Intoxication · Infancy
Automatism
Consent · Mistake
Duress · Necessity
Provocation · Self defense
False confession · Entrapment
Other common law areas
Contract law · Tort law · Property law
Wills and trusts · Evidence
Portals: Law · Criminal justice

Mistaken identity is a defense in criminal law which claims the actual innocence of the criminal defendant, and attempts to undermine evidence of guilt by asserting that any eyewitness to the crime incorrectly thought that they saw the defendant, when in fact the person seen by the witness was someone else. The defendant may question both the memory of the witness (suggesting, for example, that the identification is the result of a false memory), and the perception of the witness (suggesting, for example, that the witness had poor eyesight, or that the crime occurred in a poorly lit place).

Because the prosecution in a criminal case must prove the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant must convince the jury that there is reasonable doubt about whether the witness actually saw what the witness claims to have seen, or recalls having seen. Although scientific studies have shown that mistaken identity is a common phenomenon, jurors give very strong credence to eyewitness testimony, particularly where the eyewitness is resolute in believing that their identification of the defendant was correct.

Summary Provided Under GNU Free Documentation License

Live From The Blogosphere!

Mistaken_Identity
EArly birthday wishes to you natasha... birthday gurl on 28/9/08... from>>> Mistaken_Identity.

lonely
im lonely on AIM somebody add me please? :( FryMonk.

not ED related-sorry but still important to me help would be ...
hi guys im not sure if any oif you know me because im a uk girl and its like 3.30am for me or something like that... anyway im currently holidaying in california with my friend who lives out here and weve been talking etc and im ...

proanorexia @ 2008-07-02T22:37:00
i cry myself to sleep every night. im tired of this i just want to die im done fighting i just want to quit there isnt even anything to live for im finished.

Mistaken Identity
I have a zillion different logins and passwords for the various websites I visit, as does pretty much everyone. Sure, I have my favorites - so I try my common logins before I realize that perhaps I'm on a site where I had to add random ...

Mistaken Identity
Looking through these bars and wondering why I'm here Accused of a crime I did not commit and.

Mistaken Identity
Undercover cop car came screeching to a halt body lying on the ground must be s.

Mistaken Identity
I touch your hand It's not my hand you feel It's the touch of another man It's.

Mistaken Identity
Kim Carnes) Did she tell you it's over Did she throw you out in the night.

Mistaken Identity
Walking right at your back This afternoon I think I'm out of luck Don't wanna leave you.

Go Home