Murder charges are very serious charges as they attract long jail terms and in some cases death penalties. You are said to have committed murder when your direct actions cause the death of another. You are also said to have committed murder when there is the malicious intent of you taking away the life of the other person. You must have shown intent to kill your victim, cause serious injury or acted in a way that showed a reckless disregard for the victim’s life for you to be charged with murder. When you are facing murder charges the first thing that you should do is hire a criminal defense lawyer who will guide and protect you.
Types of murder charges
Murder charges are grouped into two main categories: first-degree and second-degree murder. You will be charged with first-degree murder if the killing was premeditated and deliberate. You will be charged with second-degree murder if you had not premeditated the killing. This is common when you engage in fights.
Hiring a defense lawyer
As mentioned above, the first thing that you should do when you are facing murder charges is to hire a defense attorney. Whether premeditated or non-premeditated, murder charges are huge and they can scare you especially when facing them alone. By hiring a defense lawyer you have a professional by your side who not only provides you with legal advice but also acts as your partner through the difficult journey.
The professional will help you gather evidence that shows that you are falsely accused. If there is proof that you are the one who committed the crime, the professional will collect evidence that shows that the murder wasn’t intentional. In addition to this, the professional will represent you in court and if you are required to answer questions from the jury, the lawyer will coach you on how to do it.
Tips to consider when hiring a homicide lawyer
Due to the gravity of the case that you are facing you need to hire the most experienced professional that you can afford. When hiring, the first thing that you should look at is whether the lawyer has handled murder cases before. To be on the safe side, ensure that the professional has successfully handled at least 20 cases before.
The assault charges lawyer that you are looking to hire should also be experienced in handling criminal appeals. This is to give you peace of mind that the professional will be able to record an appeal in the event you don’t win your case.
Importance Of Hiring A Domestic Violence Lawyer
Domestic violence includes intimidation, control, coercion, and punishment. When you are facing a domestic violence case, the first thing that you should do is to hire a domestic violence lawyer. There are many benefits of hiring a lawyer. These benefits include:
The violence lawyer will provide you with guidance
When you are dealing with a court case for the first time you need someone to guide you. This is where your lawyer comes in. The professional will guide you through the entire process and coach you on how to answer the questions put across. Being on trial for a criminal case is stressful but with a lawyer on your side you will have an easy time.
The domestic attorney will help you in proving your innocence
The general assumption in courts is that you are innocent until proven guilty. Just because your family members have alleged that you assaulted them it doesn’t mean that you have to go behind bars. Your lawyer will work with you in proving your innocence. He/she will help in correcting evidence, getting witnesses, and any other thing that will tip the case to your side.
The attorney will protect your rights
Being charged with a criminal offense doesn’t forfeit your rights; you still have your rights even when you are facing criminal charges. Your lawyer will protect you and ensure that your rights aren’t violated. The attorney will be present to make sure that you are provided with the necessary legal representation and your case is fairly heard.
The attorney will help you in drafting restraining orders
If you are the victim, the attorney will help you with the filing of the restraining orders so that your abuser doesn’t get access to you or your loved ones. The process of getting restraining orders can be long and tedious but with a lawyer, you will easily get the documents.
Conclusion
There are plenty of benefits that come with hiring a criminal defense lawyer when you are facing domestic violence cases. The type of lawyer that you hire has a great impact on the success of your case. As rule of thumb, you should hire a professional who is highly experienced in domestic violence cases. Before you settle on the lawyer you should go through his/her portfolio. You should also take the initiative to reach out to the people that have worked with the lawyer before. This is to prepare yourself on what to expect when working with the professional.
