It bears repeating: Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Public perception is one thing, but governments are supposed to prove their case before taking away a person’s freedom. With that in mind, the decision over whether or not to testify is among the most serious choices a defendant has to make. Most people keep quiet, and let their attorneys do the talking. Others take the risk, and open themselves up to cross-examination by the state. Sometimes it leads to fireworks in the courtroom.