If you can show that you were acting in reasonable self-defense, your domestic violence charge can be dismissed, or you could be found not guilty at trial. It is very, very common for people to get arrested for domestic violence after defending themselves against an abusive partner. Many domestic abusers are quite skilled liars and very good at manipulating the situation to make it appear as though they are the victims. A spouse or romantic partner who has complete control over his or her victim may be completely calm when the police arrive while the actual victim is in a state of panic. If you have been arrested for domestic violence because you were defending yourself, there is hope. A Naperville, IL domestic violence lawyer can help.
Proving a Self-Defense Claim
It is not always easy for the police to tell who is the victim and who is the aggressor. Looking at the obvious physical injuries on each party may not tell the full story. It is fairly common for only the aggressor to have visible injuries while the victim’s injuries are not readily apparent. If your spouse pushed you down, pulled your hair, or unlawfully restrained you, he may not have left any bruises that were visible when the police arrived. However, if you defended yourself by biting or scratching him, he may have visible injuries that caused the police to think that you were the aggressor.