The harsh reality of random and catastrophic gun violence frequently appears in the news. The courts have taken the approach of sending a strong message to anyone who chooses to possess, and to use guns because of the havoc inflicted in Toronto by gun violence. Consequently, a firearm related conviction will result in significant penalties sending you to jail; giving you a criminal record; and, limiting your future opportunities in life.
Extensive state resources
Firearm investigations receive tremendous public funding with politicians at all levels of government announcing plans and financing to combat gun violence. Every year, millions of dollars are poured into police project investigations and various police initiatives that lead to large scale arrests and seizures of guns.
Furthermore, prosecutions in firearm cases often have much greater resources and support in court. For example, there are teams of prosecutors that deal with gun cases like the Guns and Gangs Task Force and the Firearms Bail Team. This means that a defendant facing firearm charges will typically have to overcome large amounts of evidence and government resources aimed at securing a conviction.
Additionally, police will often overcharge a defendant in gun cases. They can do this because there are many specific gun charges in the Criminal Code. Each offence has a slight technical variation on other very similar offences. This can be frightening because police will often charge a defendant with an assortment of charges out of a single arrest involving a single gun. If you are facing these types of charges, contact a Toronto gun lawyer who can work hard to defend you.
Forensic evidence in gun cases
Firearm prosecutions will often involve forensic scientific evidence. This type of forensic evidence can range from examination and identification of firearms, ammunition, and firearm components to trajectory analysis and shooting reconstruction.
At first glance, expert evidence of this kind provided by a polished scientist can seem overwhelming. But, an experienced criminal defence lawyer can test the expert evidence by reviewing source documents; investigating other possibilities; consulting with other experts in the field; and, uncovering assumptions that were made or possibilities that were left unexplored. Furthermore, expert evidence must be unbiased. If there is a suggestion of bias, an experienced criminal defence lawyer is well equipped to expose it.
Charged with gun crimes?
Defending gun cases is a forte of Deniz Sarikaya’s practice. He has secured not guilty verdicts in firearm cases by challenging possession; questioning the operability of the firearm; and by winning pre-trial motions to exclude the evidence. Where that isn’t possible, he has attained favourable sentences. In some cases, he has gone so far as to challenge the constitutionality of mandatory minimum sentences. Each case is different and there is no guarantee of success in criminal courts. However, having a strong criminal defence lawyer on your side is the best way to get a positive outcome in a gun case.
If you are arrested for gun crimes in Toronto, contact an experienced criminal defence lawyer immediately. You could face years in jail, so protect yourself from the beginning. Call the law office of Deniz Sarikaya at 647-282-5777 for a free consultation if you are facing gun charges.