The video starts with Paul D. Petrus, Jr. saying that the key to successfully defending felony assault cases is putting in the work from the beginning. This means one should hire a private investigator to investigate what happened at the crime scene, locate witness statements, and obtain witness information. These things must happen fast because once a complaining witness files a complaint with the police and no one from the defense contacts that person and the witnesses that happened, it means the only people the potential witnesses have been contacted by or contacted are the prosecutor's office.
The issue here is the witnesses may build an affinity with the prosecutor and refuse to talk with anybody else, which can significantly increase the chances of getting convicted. For this reason, Paul says it's important to immediately hire a reputable and competent criminal defense lawyer with the resources to find a seasoned private investigator and interview potential witnesses before they move on from the case or decide to speak only with the prosecutor's office. Felony attorneys are great resources for anyone looking for a strong defense when hit with a felony assault case. However, one must do their due diligence before hiring anyone to ensure they have a track record of ensuring successful outcomes for their clients.
