Defense

*"OBJECTION!"*

The **Defense** in Attorney Online are hired by or for the defendant to help prove their innocence in a court of law. This is accomplished by cross examining witness testimonies, finding contradictions with evidence and providing theories as to the true nature of the crime.

In the country of Japanifornia, it's **guilty until proven innocent**, therefore the Defense always have a disadvantage.

The **Lead Defense** takes charge of the defense, being the main figure to ask questions during cross examinations, point out contradictions and provide evidence and theories as to why there is a contradiction.

They are often helped by a **Co-Defense** who will provide advice and theories to the lead or, if necessary, take over for them. There is also potentially room for a **Support Defense** who generally provides moral support.

## How To Play

The defense attorney has the most important task in the trial. In fact, the trial can only be as good as the defense attorney. This is a guide on how to deal with some of the situations you'll encounter:

### Database

It is vital as a defense attorney to write down somewhere the important details leaked by the witnesses and the prosecution. Do not trust your memory as you can easily forget small details that often end up being the key to solve the murder mystery. Try using a website that allows multiple people to edit the same document (such as piratepad) and share the link with your defense comrades by using the /pm (CHARACTER NAME) command at server chat.

### Questioning

When questioning a witness you want to be fast, efficient and entertaining. Failing at any of those three aspects will make other players grow a distaste for you, and this includes the judge, thus making it impossible for you to get a "NOT GUILTY". Do not be afraid to make jokes or ask for the witness' irrelevant backstory, most of the good players will not complain about it if done moderately as it is fun and makes the case more interesting. Try and collect the most information you can about everything the witness mentions, ask for their point of view on some evidence, simulate what they saw in your head to see if it is possible, discuss the situation with your bench and make your way through the cross examination.

### Contradiction Handling

When you find a contradiction, you want to use "OBJECTION" before pointing it out or else players will be annoyed by your actions. Do a build-up and, at the climax of your objection, play whatever objection theme fits your taste. The most difficult part, however, and also one that most defense attorneys fail at, is knowing what to do with the contradiction you just found. Do not keep the mindset that the witness is lying. Most witnesses are telling the truth, the only ones that lie are usually trying to protect someone or hide a mistake they committed (assuming they are not the killer), but those are rare. You must use the contradiction to your advantage and attempt to at least get to see another witness with it. Do not let the prosecution dismiss it by simply saying "Oh the witness was merely mistaken" or else your effort will have gone to waste.

### Acquiring Evidence

Most times you will need to seek new evidence in order to be able to indict someone or progress. This is most easily done by requesting the detective to examine a specific part of the scene for more evidence, or by examining already existent evidence in more detail (such as asking to check for fingerprints on a specific object). There are, however, other more creative ways to acquire evidence. Sometimes the evidence is under the possession of a witness, and you can reveal that in a dramatic way and earn points with the other players. For example, maybe a witness was injured but is hiding that, and you can uncover that by asking the bailiff to examine the witness.

### Indicting the Killer

Once you feel like you have enough evidence, you can try indicting someone. That person is usually the second witness, but it can be anyone really, even the prosecution. Make sure you are clear on your accusations and present the evidence that binds the person you are indicting to the crime. If you don't have decisive evidence, you can have them testify about how they didn't do it (assuming you had enough evidence to prove they were at least involved somehow). Do not attempt to rush this process or take some easy way out such as saying "But this witness is as likely to have done it as the defendant!". Be patient and things will eventually work out.