Murder Defense Lawyer in Oakland

In the state of California, murder is classified as the unlawful killing of a human being with malice and premeditation.

Malice is expressed when obvious evidence to deliberately intend to take the life of another human being.

Malice is implied, when there is no evidence of significant provocation, also when the circumstances present during the killing the show of an abandoned and malignant heart.

Murder is classified as a crime which falls under the category of criminal homicide. Federal and state laws referring to murder tend to be the most complex of all criminal laws.

Our Oakland Criminal Attorney Handles All Degrees of Crimes

The classification of a murder offense is complex, but typically is divided into categories based on the severity.

1. First Degree Murder - The malicious and intentional killing of a human being and demonstrated that the killing was premeditated and deliberate
2. First degree murder with "special circumstances" – The jury finds the defendant guilty of first degree murder with special circumstances such as a murder of a police officer, a murder involving torture to the victim
3. Second degree murder – The killing of a human being which resulted from an intentional act which was deliberately executed with the understanding that it could be dangerous to human life.

Penalties to a murder offense are serious and will greatly affect the freedom of the accused. Some of the penalties include:

First degree – could face life in prison
First degree with special circumstances – is the highest level of a homicide offense, and could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
Second degree – varies, since the accused did not intended to commit a homicide

The penalties for a murder case are serious and will greatly damage the lives of those accused. Call our skilled murder defense lawyers who can assist your during this difficult time.