Boston, MA criminal defense attorney Nat Carney talks about his approach to domestic violence cases. He recognizes that domestic violence cases present two key considerations for an attorney. First, when there is a longstanding relationship between the alleged victim and the client, there may be evidence of bias, motive to fabricate, or other factors that must be thoroughly investigated during case preparation. Second, long-term relationships can give rise to privileges, such as the right not to self-incriminate in situations of mutual combat or marital privileges, which may affect the viability of the case at trial.

When handling these cases, he carefully evaluates whether the prosecution can present essential witnesses and identifies opportunities to explore bias or motive through cross-examination or his own evidence. In cases involving a history of abuse, he draws on expert testimony and scientific research to demonstrate that a client’s fear or defensive actions were reasonable based on past experiences, particularly in establishing who acted as the first aggressor.