Michigan Homicide Charges

Being charged with homicide in Michigan is one of the most serious legal situations an individual can find themselves in. If you’re being charged with murder, you could spend the rest of your life in prison. Both murder and manslaughter are egregious accusations, and it is imperative that anyone facing these charges find the best possible criminal defense attorney in order protect their future.

George Law is a recognized top criminal defense firm in the Metro Detroit Area, and has over a decade of trial experience representing clients charged with the most serious offenses.

If you or someone you know is facing charges for homicide or murder in Michigan, George Law can offer top quality legal defense that will vigorously investigate each aspect of your case. This includes ensuring the police follow proper protocol, and that your legal rights have been upheld throughout the entire process. We also will examine any circumstances that can reduce your charges.

Michigan Homicide & Muder Laws

In Michigan, there are two primary categories of homicide charges – murder and manslaugter. These charges are differentiated primarily based on the intent or motivation that lead up to the homicide, with the seriousness of the penalties corresponding accordingly.

Murder is defined as the intentional act of killing another person, whether premeditated or not. Manslaughter is differentiated by either an altered state of mind that results in the death of another, or a death which was not intentional or occurred by accident. These charges are each further divided into different levels depending on the circumstances.

Murder Charges

Murder charges are divided into first and second degree levels. First degree murder is the most serious type of homicide charge, which is applicable when the killing was premeditated. An example of this would be if a spouse planned out the murder of their partner in advance before commiting the crime.

Second degree charges are not as serious as first degree charges but are applicable to a wider range of circumstances where the murder was intentional but not premeditated. This could be tied to another crime such as burgulary, armed robbery, carjacking, etc where the murder was not originally part of the plan but was commited anyway with clear knowledge of what was happening. This is by far the most common murder charge.

Manslaughter Charges

Manslaughter is similarly divided into two different levels depending on what led up to the killing. Voluntary manslaughter is when a killing occurs as a result of passion or in the heat of the moment – which wouldn’t have occurred if the accused was in a normal state of mind. An example of this would be if someone were to cause the death of another when there was no intention for that to occur, such as in a fist fight or a physical altercation that takes place during the course of a domestic violence situation.

Involuntary manslaughter differs in that the death was caused by an accident and was not intentional. This usually occurs in situations where an error in judgement resulted in the unintentional death of another. The most common example of this is a fatal car accident that was a result of negligence or an equipment operator who was acting in a manner that needlessly caused the death of another.

Murder Defense Attorney

Because of the seriousness of murder or manslaughter charges in Michigan, it is strongly advised that those who are being investigated for or accused of these offenses seek legal counsel immediately, even if they have not been formally charged. An experienced homicide defense attorney will take into account the unique circumstances surrounding every case in order to formulate a winning strategy for their clients.

Sometimes winning does not always mean avoiding a conviction, especially for cases when it is abundantly clear the defendant is guilty of committing homicide. In these circumstances, reducing prison time and penalities, or having murder charges reduced to manslaughter are the best outcomes possible. This is entirely dependent on the factors involved in every case, as well as the skills of the criminal defense team the accused has retained.

At George Law, our team of expert murder defense lawyers are ready to help those facing murder and manslaughter charges. With decades of combined experience achieving successful legal outcomes for our clients, we are confident that we can assist you during what is likely to be the most difficult time in your life. If you are facing homicide charges in Michigan, please contact our office as soon as possible so we can create a custom tailored winning strategy to ensure the best possible legal outcome for you.