Mere miles from Orlando and just off Interstate 4, Lake Mary has one of the lowest crime rates in the state. However, that does not mean that serious crimes and accusations of crimes do not occur here. One of the most serious criminal accusations that a person can face is a murder charge, which can carry consequences of life in prison or even the death penalty. Those who have been accused of murder are literally in the fight of their lives and need an experienced criminal attorney to represent them. A Lake Mary murder lawyer may be able to advocate for your innocence or help limit the severe impacts of a conviction.
For a person to be convicted of first-degree murder in Florida, the prosecution must be able to prove that the defendant intentionally took another person’s life and that the act was premeditated, occurred while the defendant was committing another crime, or occurred because they distributed a controlled substance. If found guilty of first-degree murder, the defendant faces life in prison or the death penalty. Recent changes to the state’s death penalty laws require an 8-member majority on juries for a death sentence to be imposed, and juries must be unanimous in determining that there was an aggravating factor present in the case. Fewer than 8 votes for the death penalty results in a mandatory life sentence.
If a person is accused of taking another’s life without premeditation, they can be charged with second-degree murder, which involves a person engaging in activities they know are dangerous and could cause someone else’s death. A conviction of second-degree murder can result in a sentence of 16 years to life in prison, with more severe penalties in aggravating circumstances, such as the use of a firearm during the act that caused the death.
Third-degree murder charges are rare, as they only apply when the death occurs while committing a non-violent felony, not including drug felonies. A conviction of third-degree murder can result in up to fifteen years in prison.
A person in Lake Mary should consult a murder defense lawyer, no matter what level of charge they are facing.
If you have been charged with murder, regardless of the degree of the crime, having an experienced Lake Mary lawyer on your side is crucial. Homicide lawyers commonly provide services that include investigating the evidence against their clients, determining a legal strategy based on the unique details of the case, fighting against the charge in court or even working with the prosecution to get a plea deal in place to lessen the consequences of a conviction. Some legal defenses to murder charges that are often used include:
The consequences of a murder charge are simply too serious to face alone or without the legal acumen needed to understand how to best counter the charges.
With the potential of the death penalty or a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, murder charges are among the most serious charges a person can face. While evidence can be used in many cases to prove the defendant’s innocence or to show their rights were violated during the investigation, other cases rely on the negotiation skills of a criminal defense lawyer so that the worst consequences can be avoided.
There are former prosecutors on The Umansky Law Firm’s legal team who bring their deep understanding of the “other side” to the table when helping their clients determine the best path forward. Our Lake Mary murder lawyer understands what is at stake and the type of information needed to fight the charge. To learn more about the services our team can provide, contact us through our online form or by call as soon as you can.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
