Murder
and Manslaughter Defense
Murder Defense Lawyer
If you have been charged with murder or a
related homicide crime in the federal or state court, you have a right to
vigorous, effective defense. At the Law Offices of Clark Head, we understand
what it means to be charged with murder or manslaughter. It means that you
already have public opinion against you. It also means that prosecutors would
rather consider you guilty while they ignore your rights. We don't let them. Attorney Clark Head has as much or more experience and success in defending
homicide cases as anyone in California.
Free consultation
about your murder or manslaughter charges
We accept all major
credit cards and payment plans are available
Murder and
Manslaughter
In California, criminal homicides are separated
into two categories, murder and manslaughter. Each of these,
in turn, is divided into additional categories. If you have been charged with
murder or manslaughter, make sure that you understand the law and know your
rights. Please have a family member or friend contact the Law Offices of
Clark Head today.
A
defendant may be found guilty of first degree murder if they maliciously and
intentionally killed a human being and it is demonstrated that the killing was willful, premeditated,
and deliberate. A person charged with murder in the first degree may be facing
life in prison and should seek the counsel of an experienced attorney, such as Clark
Head, immediately.
First
degree murder with "special circumstances"
In California, first Degree murder with “special circumstances” is the highest
level homicide offense. The special circumstances that may constitute this
charge are enumerated under California Penal Code section 190.2. If a jury
finds a defendant guilty of first degree murder with special circumstances
(e.g. murder of a police officer, murder involving torture, among others), then
they could be facing the death penalty or life in prison without the
possibility of parole.
Second
degree murder
A defendant may be found guilty of murder in the second degree if the killing
resulted from an intentional act that was deliberately performed with the
knowledge that it could be dangerous to human life. If the killing was the
direct result of such an action, like an attempt at stealing diamonds, it isn’t necessary to prove that the accused
actually intended to commit homicide.
Voluntary
manslaughter
A defendant may be found guilty of voluntary manslaughter if certain mitigating
circumstances were present when they intended to kill. For example, if the
defendant was provoked to kill, or if they honestly but unreasonably believed
they needed to use lethal force to defend their self .
Involuntary
manslaughter
If an individual’s criminally negligent behavior results in homicide, they may
be charged and found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Vehicular
manslaughter
An individual who has taken the life another while operating a vehicle such as
a car, motorcycle or boat may be charged with vehicular manslaughter.
We'll stand by you
If you have been charged with murder or
manslaughter, we know that things don't look very good for you or your family from
where you are sitting right now. We won't tell you not to worry. We will tell
you that we will stand firmly by your side throughout the entire process,
fighting to help you get the best possible outcome for your murder charges.
We use a variety of professional resources to
investigate your charges to determine whether murder charges can be reduced to
manslaughter, based on legal options such as self-defense or justifiable
homicide. Individuals accused of violent crimes are typically those most in
need of these constitutional safeguards, as emotion and character evidence is
often used to taint and sway the minds of the public, the court, and the jury.
At the Law Offices of Clark Head, we guarantee our
efforts to fight for the best possible outcome for your homicide charges.