A homicide offense occurs when someone other than the deceased was responsible for his or her death. If this is the case, there will definitely be an investigation. The scope and depth of this process will depend on how much the police suspects that someone else was responsible for the person’s death. Murder is one of the homicide types, and one of them is capital murder (which carries the maximum penalty of death). While this is the most serious of all the homicide offenses, others will also carry severe penalties (which can be up to 2 years in a state jail to up to 20 years in prison).
What is the current law for murder in the State of Texas?
Someone commits a murder offense in the State of Texas if he or she:
- Intentionally or knowingly causes someone else’s death.
- Plans to cause serious bodily injury and performs actions that are clearly dangerous to human life, which results in someone else’s death.
- Commits or attempts to commit a felony (other than manslaughter) and, in the actions related to the attempt, commits or attempts to commit an act that’s clearly dangerous to human life (which results in someone else’s death).
Be sure to reach out to someone at Gale Law Group for more information.
What is the range of penalties for a murder conviction in the State of Texas?
Murder is considered a first-degree felony in the State of Texas, which can lead to anywhere from 5 years to life in prison. But if you can prove that you “caused the death under the immediate influence of sudden passion arising from an adequate cause” by presenting evidence during the punishment stage of a trial (after you have been convicted), it will be considered a second-degree felony with a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
What’s the best defense for a murder or manslaughter charge?
The best defense for any homicide charge is one that starts before you have been arrested. If you’re under investigation for a homicide crime, make sure you consult an attorney before you agree to cooperate with a police investigation or interrogation. This type of decision isn’t one that you should make alone. Be sure to speak to someone at Gale Law Group, so you can get representation throughout the process.
The best defense also consists of a good offense. This will involve a thorough investigation that you perform independently, an evaluation or investigation conducted by the police department, and collecting forensic evidence. Our team of qualified attorneys can coordinate this process, so you can come up with the most effective defense. If you or a loved one has been arrested on homicide charges, the investigation isn’t over. In fact, it’s only the beginning. We can work with the State on all the evidence it has collected, so we can find the best legal defense for all of their accusations.
What is criminally negligent homicide?
According to Texas Law, criminally negligent homicide is committed when you cause someone else’s death due to “criminal negligence” and is considered a state jail felony. This is a critical defense to understand. You’ll have to look at case laws and what the jury has determined. Be sure to speak to someone at Gale Law Group for more information.
Can I go to prison for a homicide charge?
It depends on the circumstances of your case. To put it simply, punishment is typically a function of culpability, which can range from intentional or reckless killing to a fluke accident. However, there are no longer any homicide cases in Texas that are classified as misdemeanors. If someone died and you have been charged, prison is definitely a possibility. But whether that happens is a different story.
Can homicide cases be dismissed?
Like any other criminal charge, homicide cases can be dismissed. It’s not as common for a homicide charge to be dismissed compared to other criminal cases, but it does happen.
Can I get a probation for a homicide charge?
It depends on the type of charge, but it might only be available from the jury and not the judge. Your criminal history also plays a role on the eligibility and odds of getting a probation.
How does “self-defense” apply to a homicide case?
This is a complicated area of the law. But to put it simply, any type of killing may be justified if you believed that deadly force was immediately necessary. Many more factors go into it, so this type of inquiry needs to be addressed by an experienced attorney.
If you’re looking for the best criminal defense attorney in Corpus Christi for homicide cases, be sure to get in touch with Gale Law Group.