A murder charge is not one to be taken lightly. If you or a loved one is facing murder charges, the San Diego criminal defense team at the Law Offices of Bradley R. Corbett is here to help. Our highly experienced team can help defend any type of murder charge.
What is Murder?
A murder charge can come in a multitude of variations depending on the severity and circumstance behind the act. The State of California defines murder as “the unlawful killing of a human being or a fetus with malice aforethought”. California state law and prosecutors can seek any of the following appropriate murder charges:
- First-Degree Murder
- Capital Murder
- Second-Degree Murder
- Felony Murder
- First-Degree Felony Murder
- Second Degree Felony Murder
- DUI Murder
Each of these charges comes with penalties ranging in severity. Murder is the highest level of aggravated homicide. A homicide is the act of killing another person either lawfully or unlawfully. Murder,manslaughter, and justifiable killings all fall under the homicide category. What separates murder from the other forms of homicide is the “malice aforethought”. What isn’t widely known here in California is that malice can either be expressed or implied. When someone acts “with wanton disregard for human life”…and the… “act involves a high degree of probability that it will result in death,” they are acting under malice.
What are the Penalties for Murder?
The penalties for murder depend on which form of murder one is being charged with. All are life changing and require the assistance of a determined San Diego murder defense lawyer who will keep you and your family’s best interest in mind. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Bradley R. Corbett will work tirelessly to defend your case and provide the best outcome possible.
Penalties for murder can range from hefty fines and lengthy jail or prison sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole or even the death penalty.
What is DUI Murder and Why Should I get a Lawyer?
If you drive while under the influence or intoxicated and cause an accident in which someone else dies, you have committed DUI murder. In the state of California, this form of murder is considered to be a second degree murder charge and is the most serious of the California felony DUI charges.
The penalty for a DUI murder charge can include a $10,000 fine and 15 years to life in California State Prison. Of course, due to California’s 3-strike program, the fines and penalties could be a lot stiffer. Whether this is your first offense or you are a multiple offender facing your second or third strike, call the Law Offices of Bradley R. Corbett for a consultation today.