Alibi

An alibi is a defense to a criminal charge offered as proof of the defendant being somewhere other than the scene of the crime when the crime was committed. For example, if a defendant's employer and coworkers all can testify that he was at his desk when the murder was committed, he will offer this testimony as proof that he did not commit the crime. The alibi defense is different than other defenses in that it is offered to show that the defendant is innocent. For example, when the defendant claims self defense, he is not claiming innocence, but instead that the homicide was justified. Giving a false alibi can result in independent criminal charges being filed against a defendant, including obstruction of justice and perjury.