Weatherford Homicide Lawyer

Being accused of homicide is one of the most serious criminal charges you can face. A homicide conviction can transform your life as you know it. If you are accused of such a crime, contact a Weatherford homicide lawyer as soon as possible. These are serious charges, and the sooner you contact an attorney, the more work they will be able to put into standing up for you.

The team at The Law Firm of William A. Walsh knows how stressful it can be to face homicide charges. I approach any case I take with compassion, respect, and a fierce work ethic. No matter what the circumstances of your changes, I can draw on my years of experience as a successful criminal defense attorney and in-depth knowledge of the Texas legal system to stand up for your rights.

The term homicide is a general term that refers to ending another person’s life. There are four main types of homicide that you might be charged with. The penalties that you face if you are convicted will depend on what type of crime you have been accused of committing. For instance, you could be charged with:

• Criminally Negligent Homicide: Defined in Texas Penal Code 19.05, criminally negligent homicide charges can be brought against a person who kills another as a result of criminal negligence. This type of homicide charge is not brought often, as the line between criminal negligence and ordinary negligence has not been clearly determined.
• Manslaughter: Under Texas Penal Code 19.04, being charged with manslaughter means you are being accused of killing a person as a result of reckless behavior that showed a disregard for human life. It does not require the prosecution to show intent, premeditation, or knowledge. Unlike many other states, Texas does not have separate charges for voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
• Murder: According to Texas Penal Code 19.02, a murder charge applies in one of three circumstances: when a person knowingly or intentionally causes the death of another, when a person causes another’s death while committing or attempting to commit a felony, or when a person intentionally causes serious bodily harm that results in another’s death.
• Capital Murder: As stated in Texas Penal Code 19.04, certain circumstances can elevate a murder accusation to the more serious charge of capital murder. Murdering someone under the age of 10, murdering someone after being promised payment for the act, or murdering someone while attempting to escape from prison are examples of these circumstances.

It is crucial that you understand the charges you are facing, as Texas does not refer to homicide charges similarly to other states. Unlike many other states, Texas does not have separate charges for voluntary or involuntary manslaughter but includes them both under manslaughter charges. Murder charge severity is not referred to by degree but by the titles murder and capital murder.

If you are arrested for homicide charges in Texas, you must remain calm. Anything that you say during your arrest can be used against you, so you are advised not to speak with anyone about your case until you have hired an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Reach out to an attorney as soon as you can and wait until they review the facts of your case so they can effectively represent you. No matter what charges you are facing, the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects your right to have legal counsel.

If you are found guilty of homicide in Weatherford, Texas, you can expect to face varying levels of felony charges. While the punishments for these convictions vary, they are all serious penalties that can have a drastic impact on your life. For example:

• Criminally Negligent Homicide: This type of charge is a state jail felony, meaning the penalty is between 180 days and two years in state jail and a maximum fine of $10,000. If a deadly weapon was used, the crime increases to a third-degree felony, and the penalty increases to between two and ten years in prison.
• Manslaughter: As a second-degree felony, manslaughter is punishable by a minimum of two years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. Fines of up to $10,000 can also be charged. These penalties also apply to the charge of intoxication manslaughter.
• Murder: Murder is a first-degree felony, meaning you will be facing a minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison. As a 3G offense, you will be required to serve at least half of your sentence before being eligible for parole. You can also expect to pay a fine of up to $10,000. The only exception to this sentencing is in cases of “sudden passion,” where the potential prison sentence is reduced to between two and 20 years.
• Capital Murder: The aggravating circumstances that increase a charge of murder to capital murder make the penalties extremely severe. A conviction of capital murder has only two punishment possibilities: life in prison without the possibility of parole or death by lethal injection.

If you want to gain a more in-depth understanding of what consequences you are facing in the context of your unique case, you should consult with an experienced homicide defense attorney. Your penalties can vary drastically based on the specific context of the crime you committed.

In addition to the jail time and financial penalties you can expect to face for your criminal conviction, you can also expect to face the long-term social effects of a criminal conviction. For example, you might experience any of the following:

• Difficulty Finding a Job: After you serve time for a homicide conviction, you might find it difficult to get employment. Many employers are hesitant to hire people who have served time for violent crimes. This is especially true if you serve several decades, as you might lack the skills required in the current workforce.
• Difficulty Finishing Your Education: If you want to continue your education after you serve time, you might find it tough to get accepted into the program that you want. Depending on the circumstances of the crime, some professions will also bar you from becoming licensed.
• Social Isolation: If you are found guilty of a violent crime like homicide, you might find that it takes a toll on building new personal and professional relationships. Also, you might find it difficult to reconnect with those who were in your life before the prison sentence.

Criminal defense attorneys are lawyers who focus on representing people facing charges for serious criminal offenses like homicide. If you are accused of a homicide, you must contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. Without a hard-working criminal defense attorney dedicated to your case, you are less likely to be found not guilty or leave the situation with a light sentence.

When you are facing a homicide charge, it can be difficult to trust that a defense is possible; however, there are many legally sound defense strategies that the right criminal defense lawyer will be able to employ in your case. For example, common defenses for homicide include:

• You Were Acting in Self-Defense: When someone is making it clear that they are going to hurt you, the law views some violent actions as justified. If your lawyer can collect and use evidence that proves you were trying to defend yourself, you might be able to avoid serious consequences.
• You Were Defending Others: When someone is trying to hurt others around you, actions taken to stop the violence can be determined justified. If there is clear evidence that you were protecting people from harm, your lawyer can use this to advocate for you and fight for the charges to be reduced or dropped.
• You Had No Intent: When arguments or dangerous situations escalate, it is often difficult for others to understand what happened. Someone might accuse you of having intended to kill another when that was not the case.

If your lawyer does not think that defense strategies are relevant in your case, they might recommend that you plead guilty. If you plead guilty or you are found guilty after your legal proceedings, your lawyer can still work hard to negotiate on your behalf. With the right attorney strategically advocating for you, you have the highest chance of a light sentence.

If you are facing homicide charges of any type, you cannot afford to waste time. The sooner you seek out the help of a criminal defense attorney, the more time they can invest in fighting for your rights. If you are seeking the help of an experienced Weatherford homicide lawyer, you should contact our dedicated team here at The Law Firm of William A. Walsh.

I have a rich history of representing clients through complex criminal defense cases, including various types of homicide charges. I put the time and effort into getting to know every single client I take on. If you are interested in learning how I can help you, contact our office today to schedule a consultation.