Voluntary manslaughter is a charge applied to a case that resulted in the death of an individual, but the incident doesn’t meet the legal definition of murder. In a voluntary manslaughter case, there is no premeditation or disregard for human life like in a murder case, but instead, the intentional commission of homicide was due to provocation. For example, if someone provokes you into a fight and in the heat of combat you get enraged to the point of wanting to kill and actually killing the individual, you can face voluntary manslaughter charges being that you had no prior intent to kill the individual.
We have handled numerous cases like this and agree that you shouldn’t be prosecuted for defending yourself. Our team of Orlando voluntary manslaughter lawyers at The Umansky Law Firm is unwavering in our fight for justice and ensuring that your rights are upheld no matter the charges you face. Bring your case to us today and discover the full extent of your criminal defense options.
Voluntary manslaughter is a second-degree felony in Florida punishable by:
Aggravating factors like possessing a weapon and if the victim of the crime was a child or elderly person will result in the charge being increased to a first-degree felony with penalties including up to 30 years in prison or probation and $10,000 in fines. The prosecution will also consider your criminal record and whether or not you have a history of violent crimes to tack on years to your sentence and increase fines.
Regardless of the severity of your charges, you retain the right to defend yourself against the claims you’re up against.
Many people wrongfully assume that since evidence proves that they killed someone, they’re guilty. However, that’s furthest from the truth. Florida law provides circumstances where homicide is justifiable. Effectively asserting any of the following defenses can result in charges being lessened or even dropped altogether:
Florida law excuses the killing of someone in the following three circumstances:
Your use of deadly force resulted from someone attempting to kill or commit a felony against you.
Your use of deadly force was purely in defense of your person. Florida Stand Your Ground laws also allow individuals to use deadly force free of their duty to retreat.
The Orlando voluntary manslaughter defense attorneys at The Umansky Law Firm bring to the table over 100 years of combined experience and time spent as prosecutors on the state and local level. Our team consists of Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyers and Death Penalty Trial Attorneys with a history of going to bat for the accused. We’ve helped numerous people just like you mitigate manslaughter charges and in some cases, had charges dismissed altogether. Allow us to utilize our legal resources to your benefit. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
