What Are Defense Strategies for Homicide Cases?

Generally speaking, criminal homicide is an act in which one person unlawfully causes the death of another person. Obviously, ending another person’s life may be taken extremely seriously in the eyes of the Tennessee criminal court, regardless of whether or not there was intent behind it. If this is your case, the court may try to harshly punish you and you must try to respond with a compelling rebuttal. Without further ado, read on to discover some defense strategies for homicide and how one of the seasoned Clarksville murder lawyers at Fendley and Etson can help you effectively fight against such accusations.

What are the penalties I might be up against with a homicide charge?

Depending on the specific circumstances surrounding your incident, the Tennessee criminal court may charge your act of homicide as first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, or vehicular homicide. The potential penalties associated with each charge are as follows:

• First-degree murder:
  • Mandatory life imprisonment, with or without the possibility of parole.
  • The death penalty, in some cases.
• Second-degree murder:
  • Anywhere from 15 to 60 years imprisonment.
  • Fines of up to $50,000.
• Voluntary manslaughter:
  • Anywhere from three to 15 years imprisonment.
  • Fines of up to $10,000.
• Criminally negligent homicide:
  • Anywhere from one to six years imprisonment.
  • Fines of up to $3,000.
• Vehicular homicide:
  • Anywhere from eight to 30 years imprisonment.
  • Fines of up to $25,000.

What are effective defense strategies for homicide cases?

Understandably so, you do not want to have to pay the consequences for any of the homicide charges mentioned above. At the very least, you want to do everything in your power to reduce the charges against you. This starts with working with your lawyer to assemble a comprehensive defense strategy. Below are common defense strategies for homicide that may prove effective in your Tennessee criminal court proceedings:

• You may want to defend that the prosecution lacks evidence that is valid and admissible in court (i.e., argue they cannot prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt).
• You may want to defend that you were suffering from insanity at the time you committed the act of homicide (i.e., provide evidence of your mental illness).
• You may want to defend that your identity was mistaken with that of another person who committed the act of homicide (i.e., prepare an alibi).
• You may want to defend that you had reason to believe the victim had an intent to seriously harm or kill you (i.e., claim self-defense).
• You may want to defend that you had reason to believe the victim had an intent to seriously harm or kill another person (i.e., claim defense of other).

There is no time like the present to start building your defense strategy. So, at your earliest possible convenience, please get in touch with one of the competent Montgomery County criminal defense lawyers from Fendley and Etson.