New Orleans Murder Defense Lawyer
When you think of the most heinous, violent crime, murder probably comes to mind. Murder refers to the unlawful, premeditated killing of someone. The killing is done with malice, for no justifiable reason. This is different from manslaughter, which is the accidental killing of someone without premeditation. This means the killing happened in the moment, such as negligence, a crime of passion, or self-defense.
Murder is a serious crime that can affect you for the rest of your life. In fact, you could be imprisoned for life. Technically, you could even get the death penalty for first-degree murder in Louisiana, although there have been no executions since 2010.
Being accused of murder is the most serious allegation you could face. You definitely need all the help you can get to reduce the charges you may face. That’s where Palazzo Law Firm comes in. Our New Orleans murder defense lawyer will work aggressively to get you the best outcome.
First vs. Second Degree Murder
There is a difference between first and second degree murder in Louisiana. First degree murder is the killing of someone when the offender has specific intent to seriously injure or kill the person. It is premeditated, which means the person thought about the murder beforehand.
Second degree murder, on the other hand, is when you kill someone while committing specific other felonies. Those felonies include rape, assault, arson, burglary, and kidnapping. If someone dies while you’re committing those crimes, it becomes second degree murder because you killed them but without intent.
Defenses to Murder
Believe it or not, there are defenses to murder. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Self-defense. Under Louisiana’s self-defense laws, a homicide is justifiable when it is committed in self-defense by someone who believes they are in danger of being severely harmed or killed.
- A person cannot be charged with murder if the killing was an accident. If you were not acting negligently or engaging in illegal activity, but you still killed someone, it can be considered an accident.
- Coerced and false confessions. It is not uncommon for police to coerce people into giving confessions, even if the confessions are not true. A lawyer can work to exclude the confession from evidence.
- If a person has a mental disease or mental defect that makes it so they are incapable of distinguishing between right and wrong, then they may be able to plead insanity. To prove this, the defendant would have to be examined by mental health physicians.
Contact Palazzo Law Firm Today
Murder is a violent crime that comes with lifelong penalties. You need to do what you can to avoid these serious consequences. The team at Palazzo Law Firm can get you the legal help you need. For the best defense and representation, contact a New Orleans murder defense lawyer. Call 504-433-1442 or fill out the online form to schedule a free consultation.
