Gainesville Criminal Defense
Murder
Taking another person’s life is one of the most serious crimes a person can be accused of. Because Florida still invokes the death penalty in certain murder cases, your choice of a Gainesville murder attorney could even be a life or death decision.
At The Law Offices of Gilbert Schaffnit, we strive to provide our clients with the most sensible and quality defense for their crimes. When it comes to murder charges, our first strategy will be to show the murder was committed for reasons of self-defense. If your Gainesville criminal lawyer can show you were acting to defend yourself or another person, the crime will be justifiable and you will go completely unpunished.
If self-defense cannot be invoked in your case, you will be charged with murder, manslaughter or homicide. If someone was killed in a car accident caused by reckless driving, particularly drunk driving, you may be charged with vehicular homicide. This crime is a first or second degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
If you killed someone accidentally, you may be charged with manslaughter, a second degree felony. Anyone convicted of manslaughter may face up to 15 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. If the crime is charged as a hate crime though, you may face first degree felony charges.
If the crime is considered to be murder, you will face first, second or third degree murder charges. Whatever level of crime you are accused of, your Gainesville criminal attorney will always work to have the charges reduced to the next serious level of crime, while at the same time fighting the charges all together.
First degree murders involve forethought or occur during the commission of other serious felonies. These crimes may result in life imprisonment or the death penalty. If murder involves a disregard for human life, but is not preplanned, it is a second degree charge. These offenses can be punished with a life sentence. Third degree murders are the least serious of these charges and can leave convicts in prison for 30 years.
If you have been charged with murder or manslaughter, please call a Gainesville criminal lawyer immediately. Your attorney can help suppress evidence against you that was gathered illegally. He may also help you negotiate a winning plea bargain if your chances of beating the charges are slim.
Call our offices today to discuss your case with a skilled representative.