The term “murder” refers to the killing of one person by another without their consent. There is a hierarchy of criminal activities in the United States that are collectively known as homicide. The most serious sort of homicide is first-degree murder, which is followed by second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter in that order.
Depending on the specifics of a crime, a person could face murder charges in state or federal court. Either way, there are defense options. Keep reading to learn about defense options for federal murder charges and contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 if you are in need of a free legal consultation.
Why do you need a federal murder defense lawyer?
Assistant United States Attorneys, who are known for being tough on criminal defendants, prosecute federal murder/homicide cases, and any federal agency involved in the investigation, such as the FBI or DEA, will testify in federal court, which can be particularly damaging to the defendant’s defense.
When faced with allegations of federal murder or homicide, we recommend speaking with an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer. The penalties associated with a conviction in a federal homicide case can also be more severe than those associated with state homicide charges, which is one of the main reasons we recommend speaking with an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer when faced with allegations of federal murder or homicide.
Examples of defense options
Choosing the correct defense attorney can mean the difference between receiving a death sentence or life imprisonment and retaining your liberty. A qualified criminal defense lawyer may be able to use one or more of the following legal defenses to successfully contest a federal murder charge:
- Self-defense – You killed someone in self-defense or in the defense of someone else because you or they were in imminent danger of physical harm.
- Unintentional killing – You had no criminal intent to hurt, were acting lawfully at the time the killing occurred, and were not behaving negligently.
- Insanity – At the time of the killing, you were legally insane.
- Illegal search and seizure — The evidence against you was collected by a search of your person or property that was illegal.
- Mistaken identity – You were wrongly labeled as the murderer.
In some cases, we will work to have the charges reduced. This would include a situation in which the murder was classified as a lesser kind of homicide, such as voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Introducing evidence and testimony that contradicts the prosecution’s account of events could result in a plea bargain, a conviction on a lower charge with a shorter sentence, or even a not guilty verdict. To get started on your defense, contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation.
