Redmond Homicide Defense Lawyer

When you are facing criminal homicide charges, you are probably aware of the serious life repercussions that a guilty verdict could entail, including penalties such as life in prison.

Your freedom and future rely completely on the verdict and, if found guilty, the type of sentencing you will receive. Reach out to an experienced Redmond criminal defense lawyer from Puget Law Group as soon as possible.

Do not delay in getting started or try to handle everything yourself. Get support from a Redmond homicide defense lawyer who will help prepare the best strategic defense for your case. Our legal team will fight for the best outcome of your case no matter what evidence is stacked against you.

Types of Criminal Homicide Charges in Redmond, WA

Under Washington State Law Chapter 9A.32 RCW, homicide is defined as the taking of someone’s life due to the action or inaction of another, with the death occurring at any time. There are five types of homicide recognized in the state of Washington, encompassing a variety of situations, whether premeditated, unplanned, intentional, malicious, accidental, or self-defense. These types of criminal homicide include:

• Murder
• Homicide by abuse
• Manslaughter
• Excusable homicide
• Justifiable homicide

These five types of homicide carry a wide range of penalties within sentencing. It is important that you understand the charges that you are facing so that you can build an effective strategy for your defense. Your homicide defense lawyer in Redmond will help you compile all the information available regarding your case and what you are charged with to begin tailoring a defensive approach.

Murder Charges in Washington State

When someone causes another person’s death with no legal justification for the killing, it is termed as murder. Murder is classified as first-, second-, or third-degree based on whether the crime was premeditated, the intent, and whether it occurred on its own or as a part of another crime. First-degree murder charges are by far the most severe and occur when a person causes the death of another person with premeditated intent. 

A verdict of guilty of murder, especially of the first- or second-degree, is most likely to be sentenced to life imprisonment under RCW 9A.32.040. Felony murder charges or murders associated with other felony crimes such as drug trafficking, rape, or abduction will also be sentenced more severely. Your homicide defense lawyer in Redmond, WA, can help explain to you your charges and the best possible strategy for defense.

Homicide by Abuse

Homicide by abuse is a specific category of homicides that occurs when someone shows an extreme indifference to human life and causes the death of a vulnerable person. Persons considered to be in this category include children under the age of 16, the elderly, and developmentally disabled persons. Deaths that occur as a result of child abuse or failure to provide care to an elderly person would fall under this category.

Manslaughter

Manslaughter occurs when someone’s criminal negligence causes the death of another person. Criminal negligence is defined as a person taking a known, substantial risk where their wrongful action or inaction would be considered grossly deviant from the standard amount of care a reasonable individual would put into the same situation. Manslaughter can be charged in the first or second degree.

Manslaughter is a common charge in situations such as deaths caused by persons driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It can also occur when a person unlawfully and intentionally kills an unborn child by inflicting an injury upon the mother of the child. Manslaughter charges are often sentenced similarly to murder charges and require the strong defense and support of a Redmond homicide defense lawyer.

Excusable Homicide

As the name suggests, excusable homicide is when an individual accidentally causes the death of another person while acting reasonably and within the law. These cases are rarely intentional and are commonly found as a result of a car crash, workplace accident, or another unanticipated accident. Working with a Redmond homicide defense attorney can help give you an advantage in building a defense for excusable homicide and working towards reducing your charges.

Justifiable homicide

Both excusable and justifiable homicide cases will result in civil rather than criminal liability. Justifiable homicide is deemed as causing the death of another individual in order to protect oneself, others, or one’s property under RCW 9A.16.050. Homicide is also considered justifiable when committed in the attempted resistance of a felony.

How a Homicide Defense Attorney in Redmond, WA Can Help

A homicide defense lawyer can help fight the charges against you in multiple ways. Our team will help you learn how to prepare for a criminal trial and what you will potentially come up against when defending yourself.

We will strategize with you to create the best possible defense, bringing evidence forward to support your innocence while calling into question evidence against you.

If the evidence is stacked too high against you to prove your innocence, we can negotiate with the prosecutor to get a plea deal, which can significantly reduce your charges or lessen your sentence. We can also fight the charges by asserting that it was self-defense, an accident, or happened during a time of insanity. These plea options could potentially reduce your charges from criminal to civil and land you with the charges of an excusable or justifiable homicide.

Puget Law Group brings over 150 years of combined legal experience to defend our clients against criminal charges. Our attorneys have defended thousands of clients charged with criminal offenses in Washington State. Composed of nine former prosecutors, our team knows both sides of the aisle and how to provide you with the best possible criminal defense for our clients. 

Contact Puget Law Group to Get Started on Your Defense Today

Let our case results speak for themselves. Simply hiring any criminal lawyer is not enough to effectively fight for your freedom. Ensure your best possible case by contacting a homicide defense attorney in Redmond from Puget Law Group to get started on your defense.