Oklahoma City Murder & Manslaughter Attorneys
Proven Homicide, Murder & Manslaughter Defense. Hablamos Español!
Coyle Law Firm is a valuable source of information, help and advocacy for people charged with any crime involving the killing of a human being: homicide, murder or manslaughter. We dedicate our criminal defense practice to defending people in criminal cases with the goal of protecting their constitutional rights. We inform our clients of potential penalties in their murder and manslaughter cases and represent them skillfully before prosecutors, judges and juries, in pursuit of favorable outcomes such as:
- Case dismissed
- Charges reduced
- No jail time or reduced jail time
- Probation
If you are under investigation but have not yet been arrested, charged or convicted, this is an ideal time to explore all your options for a successful defense.
We are ready to begin the very important hard work of protecting your future as you face serious criminal charges. Are you ready? Begin with a clear understanding of the charges against you and contact us at (405) 232-1988 to learn more!
Understanding Homicide, Murder & Manslaughter
Homicide is defined as the act of one human being unlawfully killing another human being. Not all homicides are punishable crimes, as those proven to be true accidents will sometimes undergo the legal process without severe penalties.
Murder is defined as a homicide in which the act occurred with express malice or intent to kill, implied malice, intent to inflict great bodily harm (first-degree murder), or with a reckless disregard for the value of human life (second-degree murder).
- First-degree murder is a homicide that was premeditated; the perpetrator planned to commit the homicide in advance.
- Second-degree murder is a homicide resulting from reckless conduct that implies a disregard for human life. Unlike first-degree murder, it is not premeditated.
- Murderous intent is sometimes referred to as “depraved heart” and only applies when someone dies during an attempt or commission of a felony (felony murder). A depraved heart murder essentially means the perpetrator acted in a highly reckless manner that resulted in an unintentional murder.
- Elements that may cause a murder charge to be dropped include:
- Killing without malice or intent (manslaughter)
- Justified or accidental killings (homicide)
- Capital punishment
- Killing of enemy combatants by lawful combatants as in war.
- Killing someone during self-defense
- This means the homicide was committed only to protect another human being. In cases where the person who committed the act had control of the situation before the murder, the person in question might be tried for manslaughter.
- Manslaughter is the unintentional killing of another person and can be voluntary or involuntary. Recklessness, negligence, lack of intention are elements of manslaughter cases, and must be proved in order to avoid harsher charges.
Mitigating Circumstances
Mitigating/alleviating circumstances may lessen your murder or manslaughter sentence greatly. These are defined as factors that reduce the severity of the punishment resulting from a crime. Thus, even when it’s clear that a crime was committed, mitigating circumstances may help lower or dismiss your penalties altogether. They may be extreme or unusual, and can include factors like insanity, postpartum depression and diminished capacity.
Aggravating Circumstances
Aggravating circumstances are defined as any circumstance during the commission of a crime that may increase your guilt or adds to your injurious consequences, but is above and beyond the essential parts of the crime itself (as paraphrased from Black’s Law Dictionary).
Aggravating circumstances may include premeditation, poisoning, murder of a police officer, judge, fireman or witness to a crime; committing the crime for pay or other reward, or exceptional brutality or cruelty. Aggravating factors can drastically increase your punishment, so our murder and manslaughter defense attorney will exhaust every resource needed to fight these circumstances effectively.
Contact Coyle Law Firm for Skilled Legal Representation
The information above is intended to be illustrative and educational only. It does not amount to personalized legal advice for your unique situation. Do not attempt to analyze your own criminal matter without the help of our knowledgeable lawyer.
Murder and manslaughter cases are one of the most serious charges one can get, meaning it’s critical to hire a client-based, results-driven lawyer at Coyle Law Firm. Our attorneys obtain a combined 70+ years of experience and have acquired a highly regarded reputation for our reliable, successful defense. We can guide you through your murder and manslaughter case while devising a thorough, strategic defense. For harsh accusations like yours, you can depend on our calculated, detailed legal approach to help you navigate this overwhelming process.
We offer free, confidential consultations. Learn how we can defend you by contacting us at (405) 232-1988 today!
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