{"id":200,"date":"2017-08-23T22:32:14","date_gmt":"2017-08-23T22:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.oykhmancriminaldefence.com\/edmonton\/?page_id=200"},"modified":"2026-04-26T09:37:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T16:37:51","slug":"trial-lawyers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.strategiccriminaldefence.com\/edmonton\/trial-lawyers\/","title":{"rendered":"Trial"},"content":{"rendered":"

The purpose of a trial is to have a judge or jury determine your legal guilt or innocence. If you\u2019re preparing for court, our\u00a0Trial Lawyers in Edmonton<\/a>\u00a0can guide you through each step.<\/p>\n

The trial process is governed by three fundamental principles:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. The presumption of innocence\u00a0<\/strong>ensures that you are innocent until proven guilty by the prosecution. In practice this means that everyone has a right to a trial if they want one.<\/li>\n
  2. You have the right against self-incrimination<\/strong>. This means you do not have to speak to the police or give testimony in court. The judge or jury are not allowed to weigh the fact that you did not testify against you.<\/li>\n
  3. The ultimate burden\u00a0is on the crown <\/strong>to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt<\/strong>. It is not necessary to prove your innocence at trial, only that you are not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Criminal Trial Process in Edmonton<\/h2>\n

    A trial will begin with the Crown prosecutor presenting his or her case to the judge. This includes calling all the Crown\u2019s witnesses and introducing evidence. The Crown will attempt to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Your criminal defence lawyer will then have an opportunity to cross examine witnesses to cast doubts about on the Crown\u2019s evidence. To understand the steps that lead up to trial, review the\u00a0Criminal Court Process in Edmonton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    The Defence then has the option to call their own witnesses and evidence. This will typically include calling your witnesses and you to tell your story of what happened, but that possibility will be discussed with you before anything like that will occur. The Crown will get an opportunity to cross examine any witnesses the Defence calls, including you.<\/p>\n

    Final arguments are made by both the Crown and the defence lawyer, at which point the judge may make his or her decision immediately. Often however, the judge will require some time to make his or her decision, and will adjourn the trial until he or she is ready. A decision may be spoken by a judge or given by writing. If a finding of guilt is entered, the matter proceeds to\u00a0sentencing in Edmonton<\/a>. In some cases, a\u00a0jail sentence in Edmonton<\/a>\u00a0may be imposed; knowing what to expect can help you prepare.<\/p>\n

    Role of the Accused<\/h2>\n

    An accused person has the option to give testimony, but does not need to. Often your lawyer will make the decision whether to put you on the witness stand or not depending on the strategic advantage. If an accused person does not take the stand, the judge or jury is not allowed to draw any negative inferences from that. An accused person will almost always be required to attend their trial so make sure you make every effort to remember your trial date. If you were recently arrested or are awaiting trial, learn how a\u00a0bail hearing<\/a>\u00a0works and what to expect.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>