Murder Charges & Penalties
The legal definition of murder is “the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought.”
This is broken down into first degree and second degree murder:
- First degree murder has occurred if you deliberately kill someone, for example by shooting or stabbing. It can also consist of causing a death as a result of the intentional commission of another crime, such as rape or arson. First degree murder is punishable by the death penalty. Short of that, imprisonment up to a life sentence can be imposed.
- Second degree murder relates to deaths caused unintentionally but in circumstances where the actions taken could be predicted to end in death. Examples of this include playing Russian Roulette or firing a weapon toward a group of people. This can result in 25 years to life in prison. Additional time may be ordered for aggravating circumstances.
Charged with murder? Contact a Las Vegas defense lawyer today!
When you are looking to defend your future against the possibility of conviction, you need a heavyweight in your corner who has more than just a shallow understanding of the law. At our firm, you can be confident knowing we have been proven our mettle time and time again. In fact, this extensive experience in murder cases has led to our very own Attorney Mark Haushalter to be chosen as a legal commentator for CNN on the controversial Casey Anthony case.
Defending Your Rights Against Felony Charges
At Okabe & Haushalter, we appreciate that each case is unique and approach your defense based on the specific circumstances involved. We can conduct our own investigation by seeking information or evidence that may be used to your benefit. Defenses that we may advance on your behalf include self-defense, lack of evidence, or police error. For example, a death caused when acting in self-defense does not constitute murder if the force used was necessary and reasonable in light of the danger. If this can be proven, charges may be dropped. Otherwise, we may find points that invalidate the prosecution’s evidence. Without this, a conviction is much less likely as the prosecution bears the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Facing criminal charges of murder? Contact a Las Vegas defense attorney at our firm.
Fight Your Charges with the Help of Our Las Vegas Defense Firm
Murder is amongst the most complex of all criminal cases. As the victim in such cases is unable to testify, it is not uncommon for the prosecuting attorney to use circumstantial evidence, witness statements, and other information in an attempt to prove guilt. Our managing attorney, Rick King, spent 6 years as a Deputy District Attorney honing his criminal litigation skills and handling all kinds of serious violent criminal cases before he joined our firm. He is committed to the seeing that justice is served and is dedicated to providing our clients with the aggressive representation they deserve. Due to his personal understanding of the lengths, prosecutors will go to in order to prepare their cases, we can bring a unique perspective to our cases.
You probably have some familiarity with our firm and our attorneys through one of the many television interviews, newspaper articles, and radio broadcasts we have done during some of our most high-profile cases. We have become nationally recognized legal analysts for CNN and Headline News, and one of our founding partners, Mark Haushalter, was a legal commentator for CNN during the controversial Casey Anthony trial. We have also been involved in other high-profile cases such as the Michael Jackson case, the O.J. Simpson case, and more. With the level of experience and professionalism, our firm brings, have confidence that you will be represented by a knowledgeable attorney who takes pride in working hard to build you an effective defense.
Contact us immediately for a confidential case consultation.