Regardless of your perspective, a charge of first-degree murder is among the most serious accusations you can face. It’s crucial that you be aware of your alternatives and that you are as ready as you can be for a trial as a result. Continue reading to find out more about what constitutes first-degree murder, your various legal defenses, and how to get the support you require. After reading, call the Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to schedule a consultation.
What counts as first-degree murder?
In California, “first-degree murder” describes a circumstance in which someone murders another person on purpose as a result of deliberate planning and/or other premeditated conduct. As a result, the prosecution must demonstrate both that the accused killed the victim and that they did so with “malice aforethought.”
The circumstances where first-degree murder charges are most likely to be brought
In this state, the following circumstances are most likely to result in a charge of first-degree murder:
- The alleged perpetrator used destructive tools (like weapons of mass destruction)
- The accused allegedly tortured the victim
- A murder took place while a different crime was being committed (such as a burglary)
How to respond if accused of first-degree murder
You must immediately contact a criminal defense lawyer like Chambers Law Firm if you find yourself in a scenario where you have been charged with and/or accused of first-degree murder. We’ll start by formulating the best defense for your circumstances. Naturally, we want to keep the prosecution from proving their case. We can accomplish that in a variety of ways.
Sometimes the best course of action is to flat-out deny that you were ever involved in the crime and either refute or offer evidence that you weren’t. If you did commit the murder, we may acknowledge it and strive to put together the case that will help explain why you acted the way you did.
Our main objectives when defending your activities are either to have the charges reduced to a non-capital offense or to have them completely dropped. We could demonstrate that you didn’t consciously plot the murder or that you had no desire to kill the victim. We might try to get the murder charges dropped to second-degree murder or manslaughter.
Another alternative is to demonstrate to the court that you lacked the mental capacity to comprehend and appreciate the gravity of your acts. This is referred to as pleading insane. We may be able to demonstrate that you believed the murder to be a justifiable course of action because you believed the deceased person would injure or kill you. In that case, we would argue that we were acting in self- or other-defense.
Whatever the circumstances of your charge, two things are certain: You need a knowledgeable counsel, and this is a severe offense. Call Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 right once to schedule a consultation with a knowledgeable first-degree murder lawyer.
