Manslaughter

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Have you been accused of manslaughter? Chambers Law Firm is here to help as your defense attorney.

While manslaughter is one of the lesser charges you can face for taking a life, it is nonetheless a very serious offense. Naturally, you will want the best possible manslaughter defense attorney working on your behalf. With Chambers Law Firm representing you, you can rest assured that your rights will be protected. We will stand by your side through every step of the investigation and fight aggressively to secure a quick and advantageous resolution to the matter.

Types of Manslaughter Charges

Manslaughter is a general term covering the unlawful killing of another person without premeditation, malice aforethought, or deliberation. Establishing the defendant’s state of mind is therefore very important in proving that a killing qualifies as manslaughter rather than as murder.

There is no California crime of “manslaughter.” Instead, if you are accused of taking a life without malice aforethought, you will be charged with one of the following offenses:

Involuntary Manslaughter: If you kill another person unintentionally while committing crime (other than an inherently dangerous felony) or while committing a lawful act in an unlawful manner, and you were acting with criminal negligence at the time, you may be charged with involuntary manslaughter. Criminal negligence is more than just being careless. It is knowingly acting in a reckless way that creates a high risk of death or grievous injury for another person.

Voluntary Manslaughter: Voluntary manslaughter applies to killings that are committed through intentional acts, but without premeditation. In other words, they are committed in the heat of the moment, following some sort of provocation that would cause the average person to act rashly with their judgment temporarily obscured by intense emotion. You don’t necessarily have to intend to kill in order to be charged with voluntary manslaughter; acting with a conscious disregard for human life in the heat of the moment can also justify charges if a death results.

Vehicular Manslaughter: If, while driving a vehicle, you commit a misdemeanor, an infraction, or a lawful act that was dangerous to human life under the circumstances, and you cause an accident that takes someone’s life, you can be charged with vehicular manslaughter. You can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony depending on whether you acted with ordinary or gross negligence.

Let Us Build the Best Defense for Your Case

Manslaughter cases are seldom as cut and dried as prosecutors would have you believe. So no matter how strong the evidence against you may seem, it is highly likely an experienced manslaughter defense attorney can help you in some way. For example, we may be able to get the charges against you dropped or secure an acquittal at trial using one of the following defense arguments:

  • You acted in self-defense or in defense of others
  • The death was an accident (and not the result of your criminal activity or negligence)
  • Your actions did not actually cause the victim’s death
  • There is insufficient evidence

If the evidence against you is strong, we can still help by negotiating a plea deal with the DA. For example, we may be able to plead a felony charge down to a misdemeanor and/or protect you from the maximum penalties.

Call Now for a Free Consultation

If you are facing charges for manslaughter, please do not hesitate to contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for help. We offer free initial consultations and affordable payment plans.

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