At a criminal defense trial, the accused person does not have to prove anything; the entire burden of proof is on the prosecutor. The prosecution must show that, based on all the evidence, the defendant’s guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt.

If there is any reasonable doubt that a criminal defendant did not commit the crime with which he or she has been charged, then the verdict must be “not guilty.” Note that giving a verdict of “not guilty” is not the same as stating that the defendant is innocent; it merely means that not enough evidence was properly presented to the court to prove guilt beyond all reasonable doubt.

Courts have complex rules about what types of evidence may be presented and how the evidence may be brought out in criminal cases, especially in jury trials. These rules are designed to ensure that evidence presented at trials is relevant, reliable and not prejudicial against the defendant. If you are a defendant in a criminal case, you need a Denver Attorney to interpret these rules, and to ensure that they are enforced.

(Source: “West’s Legal Environment of Business,” Fourth Edition)