Fresno Murder Defense Lawyers
Homicide Laws in California
Without a doubt, murder is the gravest of all criminal offenses. Whether someone plans ahead to end a person’s life or does so in the spur of the moment, the United States Government does not take such crimes lightly. Homicide can be committed in either the second degree or the first degree, and the penalties vary depending on the verdict.
Regardless of whether or not you are guilty of such a violent crime, our Visalia homicide defense attorneys at Sawl Law Group can ensure that you are not punished for a crime you did not commit. We understand what it takes to get the most favorable results in your case by investigating the alleged crime, collecting evidence, analyzing evidence gathered by the police, and negotiating with the prosecution.
Call us today at (559) 205-7757 or contact us online to request a free consultation with a Fresno murder attorney.
What is Murder in the Second Degree?
All definitions and penalties for murder are listed in California Penal Code § 187-199. When a person intentionally kills someone “in the heat of passion,” it is murder in the second degree. An example of second-degree homicide would be when a man walks in to find his wife with another man and kills him in a fit of anger.
The penalty for second-degree murder is:
- a prison sentence of 15 years to life as found in Pen. Code § 190.
- The sentence is increased to 25-to-life in the event that the victim was a peace officer, or a life sentence without parole if the murder of the officer was intentional.
What is Murder in the First Degree?
Murder in the first degree requires premeditation, meaning that the offender had been planning to kill the victim before they committed the homicide. Punishment for first-degree murder is death or life in prison without parole as found in Pen. Code § 190.
If you are facing charges of such a crime, speak with our experienced criminal defense lawyers immediately to start building your defense. Otherwise, you may face life in prison or the death sentence.
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Sawl Law Group was great experience. They made what was a bad situation into a calm and comforting one. I would recommend them to anyone.
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"I will forever be grateful to this office who helped me."I retained the office to help me with some very serious charges that would hurt my career and long time goals. I was wrongfully accused of taking materials from a job site. I did not take them, this law office help prove my innocence. They helped me find an investigator for my case. The staff was always ready to help me and willing to go the extra step when I had questions. The Attorney later was able to get my case dismissed. I will forever be grateful to this office who helped me. I recommend Sawl Law Group if you want someone fighting for you.- Preston D.
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The Sawl Law Group really, really did an outstanding job for me. They were very invested in my interest to pursue a dismissal for some things I did as a young man. We won the dismissal and my attorney Michelle did a great job and was really caring about my situation. I definitely recommend this group to anyone seeking legal representation!
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"They were able to lower my DUI to a much lesser charge of “Wet Reckless” saving me thousands of dollars, and time. So thank you Sawl Law Group, Claudia, and Michelle."
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