Long Beach Homicide Attorney

Homicides are very serious offenses, consisting of legal challenges for both the defense and prosecution. Although prosecutors bear the burden of proof, anyone facing homicide charges should only consider a very skilled and experienced Long Beach homicide attorney to handle their case. Peter Larkin, Attorney at Law has more than three decades of experience in criminal law and is highly competent in homicide defense.

Homicide law in Long Beach

Homicide refers to any killing whether lawful or unlawful. Self defense and military killing are instances where homicide is lawful. However, when referring to a criminal case, homicides involve unlawful killing and are generally tried at the state level. Sentencing varies from state to state, and some states carry maximum penalties of capital punishment. In other states, the maximum penalty for homicide is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Types of homicide charges

California has various types of homicide charges. Homicide in Long Beach includes:

• Murder. Murder is the most serious homicide and is characterized by malicious intent. There are different degrees of murder and the most egregious involves malice aforethought or in other words premeditated murder. Murder is further classified into capital murder, first degree, second degree, and attempted murder.
• Manslaughter. Manslaughter differs from murder in that no malicious intent or premeditation about killing is involved. Various types of manslaughter are recognized by California courts, such as—
• Voluntary manslaughter. Voluntary manslaughter is spontaneous killing without malice or premeditation, resulting from an argument or in the heat of passion.
• Involuntary manslaughter. Involuntary manslaughter is killing that occurs without malice and without the intent to kill but results from a disregard for human life in violation of a law or a through a lawful act that involves great risk of injury or death. An example of involuntary manslaughter may be a hunter who mistakes another hunter for an animal and shoots, killing the person.
• Vehicular manslaughter. Vehicular manslaughter involves killing that occurs as a result of driving unlawfully or while committing an unlawful act. An example of vehicular manslaughter would be killing a pedestrian while trying to evade the police during a high speed chase.

Defending homicide charges—get legal help from homicide attorneys in Long Beach

Understand your rights under homicide laws and find out about effective criminal defense. Call 310-833-5344 today or contact Peter Larkin, Attorney at Law online.