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If you have been accused of murder, you understand just how serious the allegation is. Facing a murder charge can result in life in prison, destruction of your reputation, and generational consequences for your family. Our Houston murder defense attorneys at Haddad & Timmons PLLC recognize that individuals are more than just their most challenging experiences. We believe every homicide case should be thoroughly investigated.
Haddad & Timmons PLLC works with clients across Houston charged with the most severe felony crimes under Texas law. Our lawyers are former prosecutors and seasoned trial attorneys who know how homicide investigations are handled and how murder charges are prosecuted in Harris County.
If you or a loved one has been accused of murder, you can count on our compassionate legal team to advocate for your rights. Murder charges can be overwhelming and scary for everyone involved. The accused individual, as well as family members, face stressful unknowns.
Family members are often faced with media scrutiny, invasive investigations, restrictive bond hearings, and the possibility of drastic penalties. At Haddad & Timmons PLLC, we believe everyone is entitled to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of the crimes they are accused of committing.
Former Prosecutors. Proven Defenders. Fighting for Your Future.
According to Texas Penal Code Section 19.02, murder is defined as willfully or knowingly causing another person’s death or carrying out an act that is obviously threatening to human life and, in some situations, results in death.
In Texas, there are several different offenses involving homicide. These include murder, capital murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide. Some of these homicide charges are determined by specific circumstances like intent, alleged premeditation, the relationship of the victim to the accused, and whether another crime was committed during the commission of the homicide offense.
Capital murder is the most serious form of homicide in Texas. Some examples of capital murder include the murder of a police officer, the murder of multiple victims, murders committed during the course of another felony, and the murder of a child.
Police investigations into murder can be involved and take weeks, if not months. Detectives can analyze things like video surveillance, forensic testing, DNA testing, cellphone records, ballistic testing, autopsies, and witness interviews. Prosecutors also often use the statement of the accused against them. This includes statements made to police during interrogation and jail calls.
Houston has a violent crime rate of 5.059 per 1,000 residents. The murder rate in the city is 0.1186. This costs the city $1.7 billion per year. For this reason, prosecutors can be extra harsh on defendants on trial for murder. An experienced Houston murder defense attorney can help you mitigate charges and penalties, refute evidence, and provide the legal support and confidence you need to optimize the outcome of your case.
It’s clear that a wide range of situations can lead to murder charges. However, not every murder is committed after intentionally planning to kill another person. Certain situations can lead to fatal altercations. Some murders are committed in association with robberies, gang crimes, or drug violence. Examples of murder charges include:
Not all murder charges are supported by direct eyewitnesses. The prosecutor may have to rely on circumstantial evidence to prove their case. Circumstantial murder charges may rely on evidence such as cellphone records, photographs from social media, DNA evidence, and witness testimony to place their client at the scene of the crime.
In a handful of cases, wrong allegations are made against innocent people. Whether it is a case of mistaken identity or false information, everyone deserves a fair trial.
Sentences for murder in Texas can include life in prison or possibly even the death penalty. Murder is usually charged as a first-degree felony punishable by five years to life in prison. Capital murder charges can lead to a charge of life in prison without the possibility of parole or death. A murder conviction can result in the penalties listed below:
A murder charge doesn’t just come with the possibility of prison; it also comes with lifelong stigma from others. Not only do you have to worry about prison, but you have to endure loss of income, media attention, and the stress of a pending trial.
You can lose your job, your friends, and your freedom just based on your arrest. Before your case even goes to trial, you may lose contact with your family by being denied bond or stuck in jail on a high cash bond.
There are many different murder defense techniques that apply to the unique facts, evidence, and circumstances of each case. For example, some defenses may center around self-defense or defending another individual. Other defenses may attack the credibility of witness testimony or forensic science evidence.
Identity often becomes an issue in homicide cases. The State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was the person who committed the alleged offense. Surveillance videos, DNA analysis, cellphone data, and witness testimony are just some of the issues that may be contested during the defense process.
Intent can also be at issue in some murder cases. Texas law provides for different charges based on intentional killings, reckless behavior, and accidents. Properly determining the appropriate intent can play a major role in the charges a person faces and the potential penalties they face.
Constitutional violations can also occur throughout the murder investigation process. Due to the nature of scientific and forensic evidence in homicide prosecutions, professional witnesses often become involved during the pretrial process and jury trials.
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If you are online looking to hire a murder defense attorney, you likely are dealing with unimaginable stress and unknowns. An accusation of homicide impacts every area of a defendant’s life very quickly. Families find themselves dealing with news media, jail, financial hardships, and fear of what’s coming next.
Murder cases are handled by the Harris County District Clerk and tried at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center located on Franklin Street in Houston. Harris County prosecutors who prosecute homicides spend months or years building these cases. Many defendants who decide to hire a Houston murder defense lawyer have better case outcomes when their attorney is familiar with the local courts. Haddad & Timmons PLLC murder defense attorneys offer this benefit.
If you have been charged with murder in Houston, it’s important to seek legal counsel right away. Contact the fearless legal team at Haddad & Timmons PLLC and schedule a consultation to discuss your case.
The State is already working to build a case against you. Don’t face the Texas legal system alone and unprepared.
Put Haddad & Timmons in your corner today and let us carry the burden.
Speak to an Attorney Today
(832) 691-8442
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