Murder Defense Attorney

In Colorado, the laws concerning first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and manslaughter cover a wide range of scenarios and can take many forms.

For a murder conviction, there are several different classes of felonies, and each one has different minimum and maximum sentences, as well as a jail term that must be served before parole.

First Degree Murder Defense

murder defenseDeciding whether a crime was murder in the first degree is often a difficult task in court. There are several conditions that are considered – but one key is that the accused committed the crime after deliberation, and that they intended to cause the death of someone other than themselves.

The accused may have been acting alone or with another person. If they were committing another crime – such as arson, sexual assault, kidnapping or robbery, and they caused the death of a person during that crime, then that is still considered murder in the first degree.

In addition, it is also considered to be murder if they cause an innocent person to be executed by lying (committing perjury) to the courts.

Someone could also be convicted of murder if they sell a controlled substance to a minor, and the minor dies after using it, or if they knowingly engage in dangerous conduct that could cause the death of another person, and someone does die as a result of their actions.

Even if the death was not intentional, the negligence is still a crime.

Second Degree Murder

Second degree murder covers cases where a person knowingly causes the death of another person, but they did not commit the crime in a premeditated fashion.

Second degree murder can be defined as a killing caused by a dangerous conduct and the accused’s lack of care for human life.

Second degree murder can be a killing that results from an act that was intended to cause serious bodily harm. A death that results from a beating could be a second degree murder charge.

A second degree murder charge can be viewed as a middle ground between first degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.

Manslaughter

Manslaughter is defined as the recklessly caused the death of another person – an unlawful killing that didn’t involve malice beforehand.

A crime of passion committed in the ‘heat of the moment’ falls into that category and is referred to as “voluntary manslaughter.”

Involuntary manslaughter is defined an unintentional death as a result of another’s negligence.

Criminally negligent homicide is similar to manslaughter but covers incidents which are considered to be criminal negligence rather than just accidental death.

Vehicular Homicide

There is a category for vehicular homicide, which addresses people who were driving in a reckless manner, and caused the death of another person as a result.

Sometimes, vehicular homicide is referred to as involuntary manslaughter. The person may have been operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or they could have been speeding or driving while distracted by an electronic device when they caused a death.

Minimum and Maximum Sentencing Terms

Depending upon a conviction for murder, the sentence imposed can range from death to one year in prison with a maximum one year parole.

  • A class one felony has a minimum sentence of life imprisonment, with no option for parole. The maximum sentence is the death penalty.
  • A class two felony has a minimum of eight years in prison, and a maximum of twenty four years in prison. The mandatory period for parole is five years.
  • A class three felony will see a sentence of four years at least, and a maximum of twelve years, with a five year period before parole
  • A class four felony carries a two year minimum sentence and a six year maximum sentence, with three years before parole
  • A class five felony sees a minimum penalty of one year, and a maximum penalty of three years, with a two year parole.
  • A class six felony carries at least a sentence of one year, and a maximum of eighteen months, with a one year parole period

These are basic, simplified explanations and examples for some of the different kinds of murder definitions and how those definitions apply to different circumstances.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive guide, but simply to give an understanding of the laws in Colorado at a basic level concerning the crime of murder. 

A charge of murder is an extremely serious charge no matter where you live.

If you or someone you care for is charged with murder, it is of the utmost importance that you have an experienced, aggressive criminal defense attorney to secure your legal rights, aggressively defend you and advise you during a time of extreme vulnerability.

Needless to say, a conviction for any murder charge will have a devastating effect on you life, the lives of your spouse and your children, family and friends.

Murder laws and sentencing guidelines are complex and penalties are long-lasting and can affect your life in ways you simply cannot imagine.

There is no substitute for an experienced criminal defense attorney in Colorado Springs who will aggressively defend murder charges.