Homicide Attorney In Brevard County, Florida

Facing any criminal charges in Florida can be a scary and isolating experience, and this is especially true for the most serious criminal charges a person could potentially face. The term “homicide” is commonly misunderstood in the United States, and many people mistake this term with “murder,” which means an intentional killing of another person. While all murders are homicides, not all homicides are murders.

Criminal Defense Counsel for Brevard County, FL, Homicide Cases

The term “homicide” is the legal name for any incident in which one party causes the death of another party. This could occur through an act of negligence, such as distracted driving, or an act of intentional misconduct, such as an armed robbery. Whenever a person causes a death through any form of misconduct or negligence, they are likely to face not only a wrongful death action from the victim’s family but prosecution for homicide as well.

There are many forms of homicide that might occur in Florida, and state law defines various penalties for different types of homicide:

• Third-degree murder occurs when someone unintentionally kills another person while committing another crime.
• Second-degree murder occurs when someone kills another person but does not premeditate the killing. However, they acted with clear disregard for human life in the situation in question.
• First-degree murder is the most serious felony homicide charge a person can face in Florida and applies to any premeditated and intentional killing of another person.
• The term “manslaughter” applies when a person kills another person through an intentional act “in the heat of the moment” but has no desire to cause the death in question.
• Involuntary manslaughter is the least serious homicide charge in Florida and applies when a person accidentally causes the death of another person through simple negligence.

Florida prosecutors take all homicide cases very seriously, and there are various tactics a prosecutor in Florida may use to secure a conviction in a homicide case. Penalties for any type of murder can include more than 20 years in prison or even life without parole, and the penalties for manslaughter can be comparatively severe.

Defendants are often charged with the most severe homicide offense the prosecution can justify, leaving many of them wondering how they can possibly reduce the penalties they face, let alone avoid conviction altogether. An experienced Brevard County, FL, homicide defense attorney is a vital asset for anyone in this situation. Your attorney can potentially help you build an affirmative defense against the charges you face or at least help you minimize your sentence if plea bargaining is an option.

Potential Defenses in Homicide Cases in Brevard County, FL

Every homicide case is unique, and you could have more than one defense available in your situation. Working with an experienced attorney is the best way to ensure you can fully capitalize on your defensive options. When you choose Chang & Pyles to represent you, we will help you evaluate the strength of the prosecution’s case and listen to your side of the story to determine your best strategies.

Some people face homicide charges for being in the wrong place at the wrong time or for matching the description of a suspect at large. It’s possible that your attorney could help you prove an alibi and present exculpatory evidence that rebukes the prosecution’s case. For example, you may need to prove you could not have done the killing in question or that you have been unfairly profiled due to your appearance. It is also possible that you will need to assert self-defense depending on how the death in question happened.

Florida upholds a “Stand Your Ground” law, meaning that when confronted with a threat of deadly force, an individual has the right to meet that threat with deadly force in kind. Therefore, if you were compelled to kill another person in self-defense, your Brevard County, FL, homicide defense attorney would be crucial for proving this and helping you avoid a homicide conviction.

Find Your Defense Team Now

Every American has the right to legal representation when they are accused of a crime. However, if they cannot afford a private defense attorney or don’t want to pay for one, the criminal court can assign a public defender to act as their defense counsel at no cost. This may seem like a reasonable and prudent choice, but if you have the means to hire a private Brevard County, FL, homicide defense attorney, they will be able to offer more personalized legal representation.