Representing Homicide Defendants in Granbury, TX

Facing any type of criminal charge can be a life-changing experience, but this is especially true for homicide charges. If you are charged with any form of homicide in the Granbury, TX area, you need legal counsel you can trust to handle the situation as effectively as possible, potentially avoiding the worst possible penalties a conviction might entail.

It is natural to feel afraid and uncertain when you have been charged with homicide. To combat fear and uncertainty, your first step should be to learn more about your legal rights and the value of hiring an experienced Granbury homicide lawyer to represent you. The Law Firm of William A. Walsh can provide the detail-oriented and aggressive defense representation you need in this type of critical situation.

Every American citizen has certain Constitutional rights that apply during and after an arrest for criminal charges. First, you have the right to remain silent. When the police conduct an arrest for any criminal charge they must read you your Miranda rights, which includes a notification that anything said can and will be held against you in a court of law. At the same time, the Fifth Amendment provides protection against self-incrimination. Even if you feel compelled to explain the situation at hand when you have been wrongfully arrested, it is almost always best to simply remain silent during arrest and booking to avoid inadvertently incriminating yourself.

The next critical right that comes into play is the right to legal counsel. Every American citizen has the right to an attorney after arrest, even if they cannot afford one. Keeping in mind the Fifth Amendment and your right to legal counsel, once you have been arrested, do not say anything until you can speak with a lawyer. Your Granbury homicide defense attorney can help you formulate the strongest possible defense against the charges you face.

Do not make the mistake of thinking you can represent yourself in a criminal case, especially one as serious as a homicide case. While it is technically possible to self-represent, attempting to do so comes at significant risk. You could overlook vital details or fail to make a compelling case on your own behalf. It is also possible to make critical errors that lead to a more severe penalty than an attorney could have secured for you.

Additionally, it is important to understand the value a reliable and experienced private Granbury homicide defense lawyer can provide compared to a public defender. While public defenders are capable attorneys available at no cost to a defendant, they must manage busy schedules. Multiple cases means public defenders cannot provide much individual attention to any single client. By comparison, your private defense attorney can offer more individualized representation. At the Law Firm of William A. Walsh, we strive to provide comprehensive, client-focused defense counsel in every criminal defense case we accept.

Defense attorneys can and often do represent clients they know to be guilty of the charges filed against them. A criminal defense attorney’s job is to ensure that justice is upheld and that their client’s Constitutional rights are protected. That means that a defense attorney has a legal and professional obligation to zealously defend their client and to attack the prosecution’s evidence.

In the American legal system, due process places the burden of proof on the prosecution. A defense attorney is professional obligated to call the prosecution’s evidence into question and to minimize their client’s penalty, even when they know their client is guilty. Successful representation can result in reduced penalties, lesser charges, or even dismissed charges altogether.

“Homicide” is a broad legal term that defines the unlawful killing of another person. Texas upholds strict self-defense laws, meaning that it is technically legal to kill another person in self-defense if the person posed a clear and immediate danger. However, homicide can lead to criminal charges in several situations. There are five types of homicide that can potentially lead to criminal charges in Texas:

1. First-degree murder. This is the most severe homicide charge a person can face and involves the premeditated, intentional killing of another person. The penalty for a first-degree murder conviction can range from five to 99 years in prison, with or without parole depending on the details of the case.
2. Second-degree murder. This homicide charge describes the intentional, but not premeditated, killing of another person. Often called a “crime of passion,” second-degree murder typically unfolds in the heat of the moment. The penalty for conviction is roughly equivalent to the potential penalties for first-degree murder.
3. Voluntary manslaughter. This charge refers to any situation in which an individual kills another person through an intentional action, without the intent to kill the victim. For example, imagine a bar fight breaks out and one person punches another in the face. The struck victim falls to the ground, hits their head, and dies. The person who hit them committed an intentional act that resulted in the victim’s death but did not plan to kill the victim, resulting in voluntary manslaughter. This homicide charge typically results in up to 20 years in prison plus financial penalties.
4. Involuntary manslaughter. This charge describes the unintentional killing of another person through negligence, such as failing to operate heavy machinery correctly and causing the death of a coworker on a construction site. Depending on the seriousness of the defendant’s negligence, they may face up to 20 years in prison.
5. Vehicular manslaughter. This type of homicide charge commonly applies in cases involving driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). If a driver hits and kills another person with their vehicle, they can face severe penalties for criminal negligence.

No matter the type of homicide charges you face, you need reliable legal representation if you want to minimize your penalty or prove your innocence in the face of wrongful charges. The attorneys at the Law Firm of William A. Walsh can provide the defense counsel you need when facing homicide charges in the Granbury, TX area.

The Law Firm of William A. Walsh provides comprehensive and client-focused defense representation in every criminal case we handle. Our team has extensive experience in criminal law and works diligently to ensure each of our clients’ rights are protected throughout the legal process. If you are ready to discuss legal representation with a Granbury homicide defense attorney, contact the Law Firm of William A. Walsh today and schedule a consultation with our team.