Murder Defense Lawyer

This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founder, Daniel Perlman who has years of legal experience as a Federal Crimes attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.

Last Modified: September 10, 2024
Murder defense lawyer

State and federal laws penalize criminal homicide above almost every other crime. If you are suspected of committing murder or manslaughter in violation of federal law, you could be charged with a federal criminal offense.

A federal criminal charge of murder or manslaughter can result in a possible life sentence and considerable fines. In the most serious cases, you could even face the death penalty.

The team of murder defense lawyers at Perlman Defense Federal Criminal Lawyers recognizes the devastation that federal murder and homicide charges can bring to defendants and their families. Our criminal defense lawyers defend our clients against these charges with the full force of the law. We can guide you through the criminal justice system.

If you have been accused of homicide, there is no time to waste. Contact our defense attorneys at Perlman Defense Federal Criminal Lawyers today to discuss your case and learn about the defense options available under federal law.

Skilled Murder Defense Lawyers

Skilled murder homicide defense attorneys

Murder and manslaughter cases tend to be high-profile, emotional cases. Federal prosecutors are under a great deal of pressure to make headway in their federal investigation of criminal homicide offenses. The assistant district attorney wants to bring perpetrators to justice and give the public peace of mind.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for innocent individuals to be indicted and convicted for manslaughter or murder. Overzealous federal prosecutors are desperate to solve a homicide. 

To protect your legal rights and avoid a criminal conviction for murder or manslaughter, you need a criminal defense lawyer who has extensive experience representing clients in federal court.

Let Us Defend You Against Murder Charges

When it comes to defending yourself against federal murder or manslaughter charges, there is no substitute for experience, dedication, and years of practice. Former prosecutor Daniel R. Perlman brings that to the table.

The stakes are extremely high in any federal criminal case. This is doubly true for manslaughter and murder cases. The last thing you want to do is leave your fate in the hands of an attorney without experience in federal court.

Any time you are facing federal charges for a crime like murder, your future, your freedom, and your very life are on the line. Without the help of a defense attorney fully prepared to face the unique challenges of federal criminal defense, you could be convicted of a serious federal offense.

At Perlman Defense Federal Criminal Lawyers, our top priority is getting your criminal charges dismissed altogether. We will also attempt to negotiate plea agreements with the prosecution to secure a reduction in charges or minimize the criminal penalties you could face.

With our experienced federal criminal defense team in your corner, you can substantially improve your chances of winning your case and clearing your name.

What is Homicide?

Homicide is a general legal term used to describe any killing of a human being by another human being. Not all homicides are unlawful. For instance, a killing in self-defense or the justifiable killing of a suspect by the police may be considered a non-criminal homicide under the law.

A criminal homicide, on the other hand, is the unlawful killing of another person. There are different types of unlawful homicides. These include murder, manslaughter, and varying degrees of each crime.

What is Murder?

What is murder

Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1111) defines the crime of murder as: “the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought.”

More specifically:

“Every murder perpetrated by poison, lying in wait, or any other kind of willful, deliberate, malicious, and premeditated killing; or committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, any arson, escape, murder, kidnapping, treason, espionage, sabotage, aggravated sexual abuse or sexual abuse, child abuse, burglary, or robbery; or perpetrated as part of a pattern or practice of assault or torture against a child or children; or perpetrated from a premeditated design unlawfully and maliciously to effect the death of any human being other than him who is killed,”

is charged as first-degree murder. Any other murder is charged as second-degree murder.

What is Manslaughter?

Under 18 U.S.C. § 1112, manslaughter is defined as “the unlawful killing of a human being without malice.” Two types of manslaughter charges can be filed in federal court. Voluntary manslaughter is a homicide that occurs “upon a sudden quarrel or heat of passion."

Involuntary manslaughter is a homicide that occurs “in the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony. It also refers to lawful acts taken without due caution and circumspection that might produce death.”

Criminal Murder and Manslaughter Charges We Defend

Criminal murder and manslaughter charges we defend

Our seasoned criminal defense attorneys at Perlman Defense Federal Criminal Lawyers have experience defending against various criminal offenses. They include:

  • First-degree murder.
  • Capital murder.
  • Second-degree murder.
  • First-degree felony-murder.
  • Second-degree felony-murder.
  • Attempted murder.
  • Conspiracy to commit murder.
  • Voluntary manslaughter.
  • Involuntary manslaughter.
  • Premeditated murder.

What Makes Murder or Manslaughter a Federal Crime?

State prosecutors handle most murder and manslaughter cases in California. But in some cases, these crimes are tried in federal court instead.

The following are specific circumstances in which a criminal homicide can be charged as a federal offense. They include:

Penalties for Federal Murder and Manslaughter Charges

Crimes involving the unlawful killing of another person are condemned as morally objectionable offenses. The federal government reserves its harshest penalties for cases involving murder and manslaughter.

For example, second-degree murder is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison. In contrast, first-degree murder is punishable by a life sentence or the death penalty.

For a voluntary manslaughter conviction, you could face up to 15 years in prison. For an involuntary manslaughter conviction, up to eight years in prison.

Even the attempt to commit murder or manslaughter can be charged as a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. § 1113. The criminal punishment for this is a prison sentence of up to 20 or seven years, respectively.

Conspiracy to commit murder (18 U.S.C. § 1117) is a separate offense, punishable by up to a life sentence in federal prison.

Federal Criminal Homicide Defense

Federal Criminal Homicide Defense

Many different acts can result in criminal homicide charges. With the varying degrees of murder and manslaughter set forth by Title 18 of the United States Code, the law can be confusing.

The main difference between the crimes of murder and manslaughter is the element of “malice aforethought,” also known as premeditation. This is defined as the intent to kill or cause harm. It is this element that the prosecution must prove to get a murder conviction in federal court.

The crime of manslaughter, voluntary or involuntary, lacks the element of malice aforethought.

You Are Innocent Until Proven Guilty

In any criminal homicide case, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The burden of proof in a federal murder or manslaughter case is “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

This is an extremely high standard of proof. Suppose the federal prosecutor assigned to your case can't prove your guilt to the extent that there can be no other reasonable explanation for the evidence. In that case, you cannot lawfully be convicted of the crime.

Possible Defense Strategies for Murder/Manslaughter Cases

Murder and manslaughter are two of the most serious federal crimes you can be charged withEven allegations of these offenses can devastate your personal and professional life.

If you are facing criminal homicide charges in federal court, it may seem like your chances of successfully beating the charges are slim to none. In reality, that is not the case.

There is always a defense to federal murder or manslaughter charges if you act quickly to retain a trial-tested criminal defense attorney. Your lawyer can advise you on the best possible defense strategy based on your specific situation. The following are some possible defenses to criminal homicide charges. They include:

  • Self-defense or defense of another. You acted in self-defense or in defense of another person because you reasonably believed that you were in imminent danger of being killed, suffering severe bodily injury, or being the victim of some other violent or forcible crime.
  • Accidental death. You did not intend to harm the other person, you were not acting negligently, and you were otherwise engaged in a lawful activity at the time the killing took place.
  • Police misconduct or entrapment. The police or a federal agent engaged in illegal or inappropriate actions, abuse of power, or induced you to commit a crime that you would have otherwise been unlikely to commit.
  • Illegal search and seizure. The evidence against you was obtained through an illegal search of your property.
  • Insufficient evidence. The prosecution lacks enough evidence to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
  • Mistaken identity. You were mistakenly identified as the person who committed an act of murder or homicide.
  • False accusation. The alleged victim falsely accused you.

Why Hiring a Defense Lawyer is So Important

The federal government has its own system in place for charging and prosecuting manslaughter and murder offenses. These proceedings can be exceptionally strict, demanding, and intimidating. This is particularly true for defendants without experience in federal court.

The federal court process differs greatly from California's state criminal justice process. It takes an attorney with special skill and experience to navigate the intricacies of a federal criminal case. Federal agencies like the F.B.I. and D.E.A. investigate federal criminal offenses.

The U.S. Attorney's office prosecutes these cases in federal court. This office has the time, money, power, and resources necessary to send you to prison or sentence you to death.

At Perlman Defense Federal Criminal Lawyers, we represent defendants facing criminal charges for murder or manslaughter at the state level in California and at the federal level throughout the United States. We believe we can make a difference in your criminal homicide defense.

Our federal crimes attorney can help you. Perlman Defense Federal Criminal Lawyers is based in Los Angeles, California. Our defense lawyers can defend clients accused of any federal crime throughout all 50 states.

The best defense strategy for your criminal homicide charge depends greatly on the unique circumstances of your case. This is why retaining a criminal defense attorney is always a good idea. We have unparalleled experience handling murder and manslaughter cases in federal court. Count on us to defend you.

Consult Our Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys Today

Consult our federal criminal defense attorneys today

Murder and manslaughter are two of the gravest criminal offenses you can face in federal court. The penalties associated with the unlawful killing of another person can change the course of the rest of your life, possibly resulting in a life sentence in federal prison or even the death penalty.

If you or someone you love has been charged with the federal crime of murder or manslaughter, or if you have received a target letter indicating that you are a suspect in a criminal homicide investigation, hiring the right defense lawyer to protect your rights and prepare your criminal case may be one of the most important decisions you ever make.

Contact us today to discuss your case with our knowledgeable, caring, and aggressive Murder Defense Lawyers.

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