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Facing a murder charge in Los Angeles is as serious as it gets. Even small mistakes during the legal process can have major consequences on your future. Fighting a murder case often comes down to the evidence against you and whether you have a skilled criminal defense attorney on your side.
What Are the Most Common Defenses in Murder Cases?
Murder defenses depend on the strength of the evidence and whether law enforcement and prosecutors fulfilled their legal and procedural duties. A Los Angeles homicide defense attorney will independently investigate and develop a personalized legal strategy based on the unique circumstances of your criminal case.
Common murder defenses in California include:
- Self-defense or defense of others: California’s self-defense laws allow you to use reasonable force to protect yourself or others from imminent violence. If someone else threatened your life, your attorney can argue that your actions were justified rather than criminal.
- Alibi: Proving that you were somewhere else when the crime occurred is a powerful defense. Your attorney may support this argument with witness testimony, receipts, phone records, or surveillance footage.
- Mistaken identity: Cases of mistaken identity can occur when a witness wrongly identifies the defendant in a police lineup or when stress or poor viewing conditions cause them to accuse the wrong person. Your lawyer can highlight inconsistencies in the witness’s claims at trial.
- Accidental death or lack of intent: Sometimes, a death occurs without premeditation. Your murder defense attorney might argue that you lacked intent or accidentally killed the other person. This can potentially lower a criminal charge for murder to manslaughter.
What Evidence Can Be Used in a Murder Defense?
During a murder trial, your attorney will attack the prosecutor’s case and may present exculpatory evidence to explain, justify, or exonerate you. Generally, murder cases may use:
- Physical evidence: DNA, fingerprints, a murder weapon
- Digital evidence: GPS data, cell phone records, emails, and forensic data
- Witness testimony: Those who saw the crime or witnesses who can testify to surrounding events
- Expert testimony: Forensic pathologists, ballistics specialists, blood spatter analysts, medical experts
How Do Defense Attorneys Challenge Murder Charges in Court?
Every murder case is unique, and the right criminal defense attorney will tailor their strategies to the facts and evidence.
For example, one approach might involve disputing whether the prosecution has proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutors must prove every element of the crime. If their evidence is weak, your attorney may argue they didn’t meet their burden of proof for a murder conviction. Your lawyer will cross-examine witnesses and highlight inconsistencies in physical or digital evidence.
Your criminal defense lawyer may also challenge whether the prosecution and law enforcement followed legal and procedural rules during the case.
For instance, if the police conducted an illegal search, any resulting evidence may be excluded under the Fourth Amendment. This can significantly weaken the prosecution’s case. Expert witnesses, such as a forensic analyst or a psychiatric expert, may give testimony for claims of self-defense in murder cases. Their statements can support your attorney’s argument that your response to the situation was reasonable.
In some cases, negotiating with prosecutors may prove to be a better option than going to trial. Your criminal attorney might negotiate a plea deal for reduced charges, suggest alternative sentencing options, or argue for a case dismissal. By combining these strategies, your murder defense lawyer can create a custom defense for your homicide case.
Having an Experienced Murder Defense Lawyer Is Critical. Contact Our Firm Now
The Law Offices of Justin E. Sterling brings over two decades of experience representing clients in Los Angeles criminal matters. If you’re facing murder charges, contact us immediately for a free consultation.
