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When you’re facing a murder or manslaughter charge, the first and most critical step is securing a homicide lawyer who can and will represent your best interests in court. As your homicide defense attorney, I will fight for your constitutional rights to help you secure the most personally favorable outcome possible. Obtaining a swift legal defense is essential.
What Do Murder Allegations Entail?
In California, homicide refers to the killing of another person. However, not all homicides are the same; in fact, this type of allegation can get somewhat convoluted, depending on the charges brought up against you. Although some are premeditated, others may be deemed accidental. Either way, jail or prison time is imminent upon conviction of murder.
This is why it’s paramount that you speak with a homicide defense lawyer. Once a charge has been filed against you, the judge and jury (if applicable) will need to be made aware of essential mitigating circumstances surrounding your alleged crime. Hiring an experienced San Diego homicide lawyer has its advantages. I, Michael C. MacNeil, will present your story and defend you to ensure that your case is fairly and justly handled from start to finish.
Homicide Charge vs. Murder Charges
Murder is a specific type of homicide. Homicide, as a neutral term, simply describes the act of killing another person. It can be intentional or unintentional, lawful or unlawful. Murder, on the other hand, implies there was malicious intent and is always a criminal offense. Regardless of the situation, it is best to contact a homicide defense lawyer immediately at this stage.
Possible Defense Strategies
When facing charges in California, homicide defense lawyers can pursue several strategies to challenge the prosecution. One common approach is self-defense. It argues that the use of force is necessary to prevent imminent harm. Another is accidental death or excusable homicide. This shows that the death resulted from an unintentional act. No criminal negligence.
Heat-of-passion defenses may also apply. When intense provocation impaired judgment, charges can be reduced to voluntary manslaughter. Mental state, including insanity and diminished capacity, can negate the specific intent required for a murder conviction. Alibi evidence supported by witnesses, electronic data, or receipts can prove absence from the crime scene.
Challenging evidence through motions to suppress illegally obtained proof or dispute forensic reliability also undermines the state’s case. Skilled homicide defense attorneys tailor these strategies to achieve the best outcome and prove mistaken identity claims when appropriate.
Tap Into the Legal Expertise of Attorney Michael C. MacNeil Today
If you need help defending yourself against a homicide charge, I, attorney Michael C. MacNeil, can help. When you contact my office, the phone will never be answered by a paralegal or secretary.
I will always serve as your point of contact; there will be no assistant or receptionist between us. Get in touch with me to set up a consultation now to go over the next steps in your homicide case.
FAQ
Homicide can be lawful or unlawful. Justifiable or excusable homicide is either in self-defense, war, or in the line of police duty, or it is accidental.
Unlawful homicide includes murder and manslaughter, which are considered criminal acts.
Murder is measured in degrees—first-degree, which is premeditated and intentional; and second-degree, which is intentional but not premeditated, or an act done with extreme regard to human life. Capital murder is first-degree and includes special circumstances and is penalized most harshly.
Manslaughter is unlawful killing without malice and is typically categorized as voluntary (think heat of passion), involuntary (think criminal negligence), or vehicular, depending on the circumstances. An experienced San Diego homicide defense lawyer can help you understand your charges and navigate your specific legal situation.
A murder conviction in California changes your life far beyond the sentence. I once worked with someone who earned their release only to hit walls everywhere. His criminal record stayed forever, shutting down job prospects and apartment approvals. State and federal law stripped his right to own firearms.
When he realized he could face deportation as a noncitizen, he panicked all over again. The conviction added a strike under California’s Three Strikes Law and opened him up to even longer sentences in the future. He lost his voting rights, couldn’t serve on juries, and found student loans and licenses out of reach.
All these after-effects are known as collateral consequences, and they can last a lifetime. That’s why having a skilled homicide lawyer in San Diego matters. They can explore expungement, relief options, and practical steps to rebuild some of what you lost. Don’t face these alone.
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