At Perlman & Cohen Los Angeles Criminal Lawyers, we stand with you when you face homicide charges. These charges can ruin your life and lead to prison time, life in prison, or even the death penalty. When you're accused of taking someone's human life, you need a skilled criminal defense attorney on your side. Our murder lawyers fight hard to protect your rights against any murder charge.
Choosing the right legal counsel can make all the difference when facing criminal charges. Not all criminal lawyers are equipped to fight homicide charges.
Homicide cases need lawyers who know about the following:
Regular attorneys often lack the trial experience needed for a first-degree murder case. Our skilled attorneys spot weak points in the prosecution's case. We question everything from eyewitness reports to how police collected physical evidence.
We have a strong track record in fighting murder charges. Our legal team has won not-guilty verdicts and case dismissals through smart defense strategies. We have the resources to:
When you choose our criminal defense law firm, you get lawyers who know how to fight for your freedom.
Homicide charges cover many types of unlawful killing. The specific charges affect both penalties and defense options.
First-degree murder is the most serious homicide crime in California law. Prosecutors file this charge when they claim the killing was planned ahead of time (premeditated) with malice aforethought. A killing becomes first-degree murder when:
The penalties are harsh—25 years to life in prison or possibly the death penalty. While California rarely uses the death penalty now, life imprisonment remains common for first-degree murder convictions.
Second-degree murder differs from first-degree because it doesn't need proof of planning. This charge applies when someone kills with malice aforethought but without planning. Examples include:
As a second-degree felony, this charge typically brings 15 years to life in prison. While less severe than a first-degree murder charge, a second-degree murder conviction still means losing your freedom for many years.
Manslaughter charges are less severe than murder. Voluntary manslaughter happens when someone kills in the "heat of passion." Involuntary manslaughter involves unintentional killing from reckless behavior or criminal negligence.
The key difference between murder and manslaughter is malice. Without malice aforethought, we can often get charges reduced from murder to manslaughter. This means shorter sentences—usually 3-11 years for voluntary manslaughter and 2-4 years for involuntary manslaughter.
Beyond basic murder and manslaughter, California has other homicide charges for specific situations.
Vehicular manslaughter charges happen when someone dies because of your driving. If you were driving drunk when an accident killed someone, you might face vehicular homicide charges. These cases often depend on:
We can defend you by challenging sobriety tests, showing car problems that caused the crash, or proving you weren't driving. Our team looks at everything from police reports to traffic cameras to build your defense.
Negligent homicide happens when someone dies because you failed to be careful enough. Unlike other homicide types, negligent homicide doesn't require intent to harm. It focuses on your failure to see obvious risks that a reasonable person would have noticed.
Examples include workplace deaths from ignored safety rules or dangerous property conditions. These cases involve complex questions about duty of care that require smart legal analysis.
Fighting homicide charges requires a custom approach based on the facts of your case. Our criminal defense team uses several proven strategies.
Self-defense is one of the strongest complete defense strategies in homicide cases. California law allows you to protect yourself from bodily harm or imminent danger. We may argue that your actions were needed to save yourself or others.
To prove justifiable homicide through self-defense, we show:
Once we raise self-defense, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that your actions weren't justified.
Many defenses focus on challenging what prosecutors say about your mental state. We might argue that while someone died, you lacked the intent needed for a murder conviction. Perhaps it was an accidental homicide or a terrible mistake.
By looking at what happened before and after the incident, we can often tell a different story that challenges the prosecution's claims about your thoughts and plans. This strategy might reduce charges from first-degree to second-degree murder or even manslaughter.
Sometimes, police arrest the wrong person. Our mistaken identity defense challenges the claim that you were involved at all. We check alibis, study video footage, and question witness reliability to show you weren't there.
False accusations also happen in homicide cases, especially when police focus too quickly on one suspect. Our team looks for motives behind false claims and investigates other suspects the police missed.
In homicide cases, forensic evidence often makes or breaks the prosecution's case. Understanding and challenging this evidence is key to your defense.
We run our tests on all forensic evidence, including:
Our team works with independent forensic experts to review autopsy findings and weapon analysis. This careful review often finds flaws in how evidence was collected or tested.
Many forensic methods aren't as reliable as TV shows suggest. We aggressively challenge questionable evidence, from contaminated DNA to unreliable ballistics matching. Our attorneys stay up-to-date on scientific advances that question traditional forensic methods.
We've successfully disputed prosecution claims by pointing out the following:
Our network includes respected forensic experts who provide independent analysis to counter prosecution claims. These experts explain complex ideas to jurors in simple terms, often showing how "certain" forensic conclusions aren't so certain after all.
From blood spatter analysts to medical examiners, we select experts that match your case needs. This ensures jurors hear both sides of the scientific story, not just the prosecution's version.
Witness testimony often decides homicide trials, but such testimony isn't always reliable. Our defense looks closely at all prosecution witnesses.
We dig into the background of all prosecution witnesses, looking for:
Our team also talks to witnesses early, before memories fade or the police influence them. This approach often finds helpful evidence the prosecution overlooks.
Through sharp cross-examination, we highlight when witness stories change or don't match. We pay close attention to things that might have affected what witnesses saw, such as:
We're especially careful about jailhouse informants who might lie for reduced sentences. Our attorneys know how to expose these deals to jurors.
Research shows that eyewitness IDs are far less reliable than most people think. We educate jurors about factors that lead to wrong IDs, including:
When needed, we bring in eyewitness identification experts to explain these concepts to jurors. We file pre-trial motions to throw out questionable IDs and challenge how police conducted lineups.
Often, the best defense happens before trial through smart legal motions that limit or dismiss the prosecution's case.
We challenge evidence from illegal searches, forced confessions, or Miranda Rights violations. When law enforcement officers cut corners or violate your constitutional rights, we file motions to suppress that evidence.
Successfully suppressed evidence can weaken the prosecution's case so much that they drop or reduce charges. Our attorneys check every part of the investigation for possible rights violations.
In some cases, we can file motions to dismiss based on the following:
Our firm has won case dismissals by finding fatal flaws in the prosecution's approach. We check every procedural detail for grounds to end your case before trial.
We protect your Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights throughout the legal process. From challenging search warrants to fighting improper police questioning, we ensure your constitutional rights remain intact.
When rights violations occur, we try to suppress evidence and create a record for possible appeals. This thorough approach keeps all legal options open.
While we prepare every case for trial, sometimes a plea bargain serves your best interests. Our team brings strong negotiation skills to get good outcomes when appropriate.
We often negotiate to reduce charges from more serious to less serious offenses. For example, reducing a first-degree murder charge to voluntary manslaughter can mean the difference between life imprisonment and the chance to rebuild your life after a shorter sentence.
These plea bargaining talks consider the following:
Our reputation for trial readiness often leads prosecutors to offer better deals to avoid uncertain trial outcomes.
We help you make smart choices by clearly explaining:
We never push clients to accept bad deals out of fear. Instead, we give realistic case assessments based on our experience with local courts and prosecutors.
One common goal involves reducing murder charges to manslaughter. This removes the malice element, greatly decreasing potential sentences and avoiding life imprisonment.
We've successfully secured these reductions by:
Early legal help greatly improves the chances of favorable charge reductions.
Creating an effective defense requires a tailored approach for your specific case.
No two homicide cases are alike. We develop personalized defense strategies based on careful analysis of the following:
Some cases need aggressive challenges to forensic evidence, while others might focus on self-defense or alibi. Our approach starts with a full case review where we identify strengths and weaknesses in the prosecution's case.
The time right after arrest is critical to your defense. Early legal representation lets us:
We strongly urge you not to talk with police without legal counsel present. Statements made before an attorney is involved can damage cases.
Expert witnesses can transform your defense by providing specialized insights that challenge prosecution evidence. We carefully select experts suited to your case needs, including:
These experts help jurors understand complex matters and often create reasonable doubt by finding flaws in the prosecution's theory.
When facing homicide charges, your legal team's experience directly impacts your future.
Unlike overworked public defenders with huge caseloads, our dedicated team focuses intensely on each case. Our experience means we've seen virtually every type of homicide scenario and prosecution tactic.
We bring substantial resources to your defense, including:
This comprehensive approach isn't available with less experienced counsel.
Our courtroom experience means effective advocacy, from jury selection techniques to powerful opening statements. We understand what persuades juries in homicide cases and how to present complex defenses in simple, convincing ways.
Our record of success includes:
This track record shows our commitment to aggressive, thorough homicide defense.
If you or someone you love faces homicide charges, time is critical. Every day without proper legal help puts your defense at risk as evidence fades and witnesses become harder to find.
We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss your case and explain how we can help. Our attorneys are available 24/7 to respond to new arrests. Remember, talking to the police without an attorney present can ruin your case—call us first.
At Perlman & Cohen, we provide non-judgmental, aggressive advocacy focused solely on protecting your rights and securing your future. Your freedom is worth fighting for, and we're ready to stand by your side through this difficult time.
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