A murder charge is the most serious one that can be brought and carries the most severe penalties, including a lengthy prison term, a substantial monetary fine, or even death.
Besides the worries and uncertainties of a future criminal court trial and the anxieties caused by the possibility of a jury handing down a guilty verdict, the recently-charged defendant faces a variety of immediate problems that must be dealt with and addressed.
These include the following:
- Even if free on bail, the almost certain probability of the loss of a job and a steady stream of income caused by negative publicity about the arrest
- Difficulty in obtaining new, alternative employment
- The possible loss of housing
- Rising family tensions
- An almost certain loss of prestige, respect, and support among relatives, neighbors, and acquaintances
- Severe financial problems that may last for years in the future and may never be overcome
- Other problems that develop and become more pronounced in the wake of the arrest and the filing of criminal charges
Life will instantly become more difficult for anyone charged with a crime. If you have been arrested and charged with murder, all these problems might take years to resolve, if at all, even with the help of a San Antonio murder defense lawyer.
A criminal conviction will remain permanently on your record and cause a range of problems, now and in the future.
As the most serious of four types of murder charges outlined in the Texas Penal code, a murder charge must be dealt with immediately.
Because of the severity of the charge, which involves the loss of human life, and the potentially significant penalties you will face if convicted, an arrest for murder will negatively affect your life for the foreseeable future.
Your freedom, future, and even your life are on the line. If you have been arrested and charged with murder, you must retain a skilled San Antonio murder defense lawyer to defend yourself.
Contact the Austin Hagee Law Firm, PLLC, at 210-500-3700 to schedule a free consultation, so we can analyze and evaluate your case. We will prepare a strategy for your defense and the potential dismissal or lessening of the charges against you.
Depending upon the particular facts of your case, including the cause and manner of the victim’s death, we’ll explore the possible defenses against a charge of murder. These include insanity, self-defense, intoxication, and heat of passion or sudden passion.
The appropriate defense is key because Texas state prosecutors will aggressively prosecute all homicide charges to the maximum possible extent. A viable potential defense may result in a downgrading of the murder charge to a lesser felony.
Our firm will give you the best defense. We will analyze the evidence collected against you and conduct an independent investigation utilizing a forensic investigator.
We will also interview any witnesses and others who might have knowledge of your case. And we will negotiate with prosecutors to see if a plea deal can be reached.
Murder Charges in Texas
Murder is a first-degree felony in Texas. It is defined in Section 19.02 of the Penal Code. A person commits murder when he or she willfully, knowingly, and intentionally causes the death of another individual.
A murder charge can also be brought forth, if an individual commits a felony other than manslaughter, and in the course of committing the felony, or attempting to flee, causes the death of an individual.
Capital Murder is also a first-degree felony in Texas. It’s defined in Section 19.3 of the Penal Code. An individual commits capital murder if he or she kills:
- A peace officer or firefighter who is carrying out their duties
- An individual during or an attempt to commit, felonies such as robbery, burglary, arson, kidnapping, obstruction, aggravated sexual assault, or making terroristic threats
- A child who is ten or younger
- An individual who works in the judicial system
- More than one individual
- An individual while being incarcerated
- An individual while escaping, or attempting to escape, from a jail.
The Penalties in Texas for a Murder Conviction
Together, murder and capital murder are the most severe charges that the State of Texas can bring. The penalties for conviction of these crimes are likewise the most severe that the state can impose.
Pursuant to Section 12.32 of the Penal Code, the penalty for a murder conviction is between five and ninety-nine years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
Pursuant to Section 12.31, a conviction for capital murder will result, depending upon the circumstances, in either life in prison or the death penalty. Age seventeen is the minimum age in which a death penalty can be imposed in Texas.
If you are facing a murder charge, or have already been charged with this offense, you can expect a significant, immediate disruption of your life that will impact you and your family. Thereafter, you will face a trial and certain prison time if you are convicted.
For these reasons, it is imperative that you select competent, capable San Antonio murder defense lawyer who have a proven record of success in the Texas criminal court system.
You need attorneys who will tirelessly work for you, have experience in defending murder cases, and will challenge the admissibility of evidence at trial.
Contact a San Antonio Murder Defense Lawyer who will Work to Get Your Case Dismissed
The skilled and experienced attorneys of Austin Hagee Law Firm, PLLC are ready to help you. Call them at 210-500-3700 for a free consultation. Take advantage of their knowledge of the law and determination to fight for your rights and future.