A New York Murder Lawyer discusses the crime of Murder
You can be sure that the New York District Attorney and police keep a close eye on the Murder statistics for their jurisdiction. Officials look to these numbers as a measure to determine the general safety of their communities. Because of this, there is a concerted effort to investigate and prosecute Murder cases. If you or a loved one has been charged with Murder, or other serious criminal offense such as Assault, rape, kidnapping or Endangering the Welfare of a Child, it is very important that you consult with a New York Murder Lawyer from our team for guidance. The penalties associated with a Murder charge or other serious crime can be significant and include a lengthy prison term, fines and probation.
In New York, the crime of Murder is defined in Section 125.00 of the NY Criminal Procedure Law. This code section includes Manslaughter, Murder, criminally negligent homicide, as well as illegal abortion. Murder, or homicide, in New York is defined as behavior that causes the death of an individual or unborn child. When bringing a Murder charge, the intent of the defendant will be examined. It will be important to determine what the mindset of the defendant was, and whether their actions were predetermined or premeditated. It may that the death of the victim was due to recklessness on the part of the defendant, or the altercation was a result of a crime of passion. Did the defendant cause the death because of disregarding a known risk? These factors will all be considered before a murder charge, if any, can be brought.
A New York Murder Lawyer can tell you that there have been substantial changes to the interpretation of New York’s homicide law. For instance, the offense of vehicular manslaughter in the 2nd degree occurs when a victim is killed because of contact with a motor vehicle, and the defendant driver is intoxicated. This offense is a D felony. This has changed and now, the District Attorney is charging people with Murder rather than vehicular manslaughter. If you are charged with Murder, you will be charged with a felony offense. The offense can range from an E felony in a criminally negligent homicide, to a Murder in the first degree, which is classified as an A felony.
If you have been charged with Murder, it is vital that you have an experienced New York Murder Lawyer working on your behalf. Contact the Law Office of Barry C. Weiss P.C. for sound legal guidance and an aggressive defense. It is extremely important that your rights are protected through every stage of the legal process. We will offer you a free case evaluation and legal guidance with your first appointment. We handle cases in Westchester County, and Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island. In New York City as well as in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Contact us today to schedule your free case evaluation at 212.785.1300.