Ontario Theft Defence Lawyers: Robbery
Robbery is a theft accomplished through either violence or the threat of violence. For example, if you take someone's wallet, you can be charged with theft. If you threaten someone with a knife or even just your fist, and then take the wallet, you can be charged with robbery.
The criminal defence lawyers of Cohen, Sabsay LLP frequently represent clients who have been charged with robbery. One of the strongest potential defences in a robbery case is the weakness of the alleged victim's ability to positively identify our client as the perpetrator.
Many robberies are muggings. The victim typically does not know the mugger. If the perpetrator is not caught at the scene with the stolen property in hand, it can be very difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he or she actually committed the crime.
Unreliability of Eyewitness Identification
Often victims honestly believe that the person they identified as the perpetrator is the person who robbed them, only to find out later their "positive identification" was, in fact, incorrect. We are familiar with the work of Elizabeth Loftus, and other psychologists whose work has established the frailty of eyewitness identification, as well as with a significant body of case law that supports the same conclusion.
Identification is only one potential defence in a robbery case. The alleged victim may not be a victim at all. We represented a client in cases in which the alleged victim was a scam artist who set up a fraudulent robbery in order to collect insurance coverage.
Our ability to investigate and analyze these cases allows us to develop a solid defence strategy designed to achieve positive results. If you have been charged with robbery, do not plead guilty without first speaking to the Toronto robbery defence lawyers of Cohen, Sabsay LLP. Contact us to arrange an initial consultation.
