A murder or manslaughter conviction will affect you for the rest of your life. Avoid this worst-case scenario by partnering with a murder and manslaughter defense lawyer in Pima. Your attorney can build a legal strategy specifically for your case. With your lawyer’s help, you could have the charge against you reduced or dismissed.
The team at Suzuki Law Offices brings decades of combined experience to your case. It includes former prosecutors who know how difficult it is to fight back against a murder or manslaughter charge. Give us the opportunity to assist you with your criminal case. Speak with a Pima violent crimes lawyer to learn more.
Why You Need Legal Help as Soon as You Have Been Arrested for Murder or Manslaughter
It is easy to give up after you have been charged with murder or manslaughter. At this point, the prosecutor in your case will do everything they can to ensure you are punished to the full extent of the law. This means you can face a lengthy prison sentence and other harsh penalties.
Your murder and manslaughter defense attorney in Pima knows how emotionally taxing it is to be charged with a crime. They answer your questions and walk you through the legal process. Your lawyer remains on your side, helping you make informed decisions every step of the way.
Let a Pima criminal defense lawyer from Suzuki Law Offices serve as your legal representative and advocate. We operate with honesty and integrity in all that we do. As such, we provide our clients with exceptional legal service throughout their case proceedings. Contact us today.
How You Can Be Punished if You Are Convicted of Murder or Manslaughter
First-degree murder is punished in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) § 13-1105. If you are convicted of this offense, you are subject to the death penalty or a lifetime prison sentence. Comparatively, those convicted of second-degree murder can receive a prison sentence that lasts up to 25 years.
The penalties associated with manslaughter are less serious than those of murder. Per ARS. § 13-1103, if the court convicts you of manslaughter for the first time, you may receive a maximum prison sentence of 21 years. If you have received two or more felony convictions prior, you face up to 35 years in prison.
Along with prison time, you may have to pay a fine of up to $150,000, serve probation, and be subject to other criminal penalties if you are convicted of manslaughter or murder. Also, you may have to deal with the social stigma and other collateral consequences that can come with being a convicted felon.
When You Can Be Charged with a Murder or Manslaughter Crime in Pima
Your Pima murder and manslaughter defense lawyer wants you to understand the ramifications of a criminal conviction. As part of their efforts to teach you about these consequences, your attorney will discuss the differences between murder and manslaughter charges with you.
If the police say you intended to kill someone or showed extreme indifference toward human life when you allegedly harmed an individual, you could be charged with murder. You can receive a first-degree murder charge if the police indicate there was premeditation. Or, you may be charged with second-degree murder if the police claim the death was not intentional.
You can face a voluntary manslaughter charge if the police say you killed someone after being provoked to do so. If you are charged with involuntary manslaughter, the police may claim you committed a careless or reckless act that led to someone’s death. Your attorney will answer frequently asked questions and others about these and other legal topics relating to your case.
How to Contest a Murder or Manslaughter Charge
Just because you say you should not be convicted of murder, manslaughter, or any common types of felony offenses does not mean the court will agree with you. Leading up to your murder or manslaughter case trial, your attorney crafts an argument designed to resonate with the court. Here are legal strategies your attorney may use:
Self-Defense
You are put in a situation where you or others face imminent harm or death. To protect yourself or others, you act in self-defense or the defense of others. Your attorney can argue that you had a reason to believe that your life or the lives of others were in danger, which led you to commit the acts you did.
Alibi
The police charge you with murder or manslaughter and do so in spite of the fact that you were not present at the time a crime was allegedly committed. Your lawyer can share your alibi with the court. This allows the court to see that you were not at the crime scene, which could result in a dismissal of the case against you.
Challenging the Prosecution’s Evidence
In addition to collecting evidence, your lawyer can poke holes in the prosecution’s body of proof. They can do so by questioning the accuracy and validity of the evidence that a prosecutor is using against you. On top of that, your attorney can raise a reasonable doubt about how the evidence was obtained. This may lead the court to suppress evidence obtained illegally.
Following a murder charge, a prosecutor may offer a plea deal in which you can agree to manslaughter. If you have been charged with voluntary manslaughter, the prosecutor may propose a deal in which you can accept involuntary manslaughter and a reduced prison sentence. In either scenario, your lawyer can help you decide whether to accept a plea bargain.
Trust an Arizona Criminal Defense Law Firm That Has a History of Excellence
At Suzuki Law Offices, we put your best interests and legal rights front and center. We can connect you with a Pima murder and manslaughter defense attorney who focuses on your case.
With our help, you may be able to stay out of prison after being charged with murder or manslaughter. For more information, request a case consultation with us.
Call or text (602) 682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form