Murder
Murder is a form of homicide, which is the legal term for any form of killing, lawful or unlawful. Being accused of murder is a very serious thing as it could put your freedom and life at risk. If you or your loved one has been arrested or is under investigation for murder, please contact the law office of the Stockton criminal attorney immediately.
The state of California recognizes five types of homicide: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, and lawful killing.
Murder charges are the most serious charges among the homicide category because they involve some form of premeditation. First-degree murder indicates that the accused planned and intentionally meant to kill the victim. Second-degree murder indicates that there was premeditation on the part of the accused, but not to the extent of what would be considered murder in the first degree.
Our Stockton Criminal Attorney Will Thoroughly Examine Your Case
The first step in any murder case is to determine if the client can actually be convicted of a murder charge. Sometimes the Stockton criminal attorney can prove that there is not enough evidence to sustain a murder charge and can either have the prosecution lower the degree of homicide charge or have the chargers dropped all together. A murder charge could be decreased to voluntary manslaughter for instance, which means that while the killing was intentional, it was brought about by uncontrolled emotion. Voluntary manslaughter will not be punished to the same extent as a murder charge.
If you or your loved one is facing a murder or homicide charge, the Stockton criminal attorney can help. Contact us right away for an immediate consultation.
