Homicide

To commit a homicide is to kill someone, either lawfully or unlawfully. Many people confuse the word homicide with murder. Homicide includes murder and manslaughter. There are varying degrees of both. There are varying degrees of murder and voluntary and involuntary manslaughter and all carry different weights in the legal arena.

Capital, first degree murder is an unlawful killing that is willful, deliberate, and premeditated. The punishment for first degree murder is death by lethal injection. The difference in first and second degree murder is premeditation and whether or not it was deliberate.

Manslaughter is the killing of a person without malice or premeditation. The details of the alleged offense will determine how you are charged in manslaughter cases.

In all homicide cases, prosecutors will use all their resources and influence to get a conviction. The penalties for defendants are serious and overwhelming. Any mistakes in the process (pre-trial hearings, investigations, preliminary hearings, negotiations, motions, and trial) will have profound, lifelong effects for the defendant. Having an experienced and skilled homicide attorney is critical. The right attorney can often level the playing field.

If you have been arrested on a homicide charge in Naples or Ft Myers call us. Having criminal defense attorneys that have practiced in Naples and Ft Myers for over 30 years, we offer you the experience and knowledge you are going to need to mount your defense. Please call 239-774-4100 for a free confidential free initial consultation.