Missouri residents facing felony charges have the right to exchange information with the prosecution to understand the facts of the case and the evidence gathered. This process, known as discovery, can be long and tedious, but is an important part of one’s defense. It gives the defendant an idea about the case against him, who the witnesses will be, and what they will say.
Depositions
Each party questions a witness in a deposition. While the witness is under oath like he or she would be during the trial, there are not many limits on the types of questions that can be asked. The witness generally has to answer all the questions. This gives the defense an idea of what the witness will say at trial.
Interrogatories
Instead of oral statements, interrogatories are written statements that are directed to the parties of the lawsuit. The receiving party either responds or denies the question in a sworn, written statement.
Document production
The prosecution has a duty to provide the defendant with all the documents related to the case, whether they ask for it or not.
One of the best ways to put up an effective defense against felony charges is to be prepared, and having information makes one better prepared. It can be daunting trying to gather all the necessary information on one’s own, which is why it might be helpful to have an experienced attorney by one’s side, fighting for justice.