Have You Been Accused of Murder or Manslaughter?

When you kill someone, whether it be intentional or by accident, the law considers these to be the most serious of crimes and the penalties are severe. Michigan does not observe the death penalty but if you are convicted of a federal crime involving murder or manslaughter you may still be sentenced.

The Difference Between Murder and Manslaughter

Causing the unlawful death of another (homicide) is broken down into two major categories, murder and manslaughter. Murder is a more serious crime for it involves intent or malice, a pre-meditation to kill. As an example, if a husband decides he no longer loves his wife and devises a way to have her killed, he would be charged with murder if the act was accomplished.

Manslaughter normally involves causing a death unintentionally by accident, or out of negligence. An example of this would be if you were not paying proper attention while driving and you accidentally ran over a person who was crossing the street and they died from the injuries. Another example could be that two people are in a fight and too much force was used resulting in someone getting killed; it was not pre-meditated, but a death did occur, though not intentionally.

Degrees of Murder and Manslaughter

Murder is categorized into three different categories: First degree, second degree and felony murder. Manslaughter is categorized into three categories as well: voluntary, involuntary and vehicular. If you or someone you care about has been accused of murder or manslaughter in the Michigan or surrounding area, you need to get legal advice immediately. An experienced Michigan manslaughter defense attorney can help you go over the details of your specific circumstance so you understand which type of murder or manslaughter you may have committed or are being charged with. You can then be advised as to what your options are. This is the first step toward building a defense and it's imperative not to wait.

Get Competent Help

Your very life and freedom are on the line if you have been charged with murder or manslaughter and you need to ensure you get help from an experienced and competent attorney to defend your rights. Whether this is a first offense or if you already have a criminal record, you will still need someone with knowledge in this area and a track record of success to help you. At the Law Offices of Freedman & Freedman, we are a husband and wife team and have been servicing clients in the criminal defense area for decades. Our goal is to provide principled yet aggressive legal representation in a prompt but personal manner for each of our clients.

Choosing the right criminal defense attorney is an important decision and can mean the difference between freedom and long term imprisonment. As your attorney, we will work diligently to ensure that your best interests are observed and your rights are protected. We serve clients in Oakland & Wayne Counties including Warren, Sterling Heights, Troy, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Bloomfield Township, Southfield, and Rochester Hills areas.

Contact a Michigan Murder Defense Attorney at our office for a free case evaluation today.