Bay Area Murder Lawyer

As your Bay Area murder lawyer, we at Summit Defense fight to protect your rights when facing serious criminal charges. Our team of skilled attorneys has helped many clients facing homicide charges across the Bay Area. The right legal defense can make all the difference when you’re fighting for your freedom and future.

Our criminal defense law firm knows how hard it is when you face murder or violent crime charges. We build strong defense plans based on our deep knowledge of California criminal law and local courts in San Francisco and San Jose.

Our Bay Area Murder Lawyer Defends Your Rights

At Summit Defense, our criminal defense attorneys have a proven track record defending clients against serious charges. We are Northern California’s largest firm focused only on criminal defense, with law offices in San Francisco, San Jose, and across the Bay Area. Our seasoned criminal lawyers protect your rights from day one.

The criminal justice system feels scary when facing murder charges. That’s why we explain each step of the legal process in simple terms. Our defense lawyers have worked in courts across Santa Clara County, Contra Costa County, and the whole San Francisco Bay Area.

We combine strong defense with careful planning. We check all evidence, talk to witnesses, and work with experts to build your case. Many clients say our committed team helped them feel confident during the hardest times.

Understanding Murder Charges in California

Murder charges in California come with tough laws and serious consequences. Our knowledgeable attorneys explain these charges clearly so you understand what you’re facing and how we can create your defense.

First-Degree Murder vs. Second-Degree Murder

First-degree murder in California means killing someone on purpose while planning. The prosecution must show you thought about the killing before you did it. First-degree murder can lead to 25 years to life in prison or possibly the death penalty in special cases.

Second-degree murder also involves intentional killing but without planning. It often means actions that show disregard for human life. Second-degree murder typically means 15 years to life in prison, with better chances for parole later.

Felony Murder Rule in California

Under the felony murder rule, you can face murder charges if someone dies during certain crimes, even if you didn’t mean to kill anyone. Recent law changes (Senate Bill 1437) have limited this rule, now requiring direct involvement in the killing or extreme disregard for life.

Today, you face felony murder charges only if you were the killer, helped the killer on purpose, or played a major role while acting dangerously. Our defense team keeps up with these legal changes to protect you from unfair charges during the legal process.

Manslaughter vs. Murder Charges

Manslaughter means killing someone without the evil intent needed for murder charges. Voluntary manslaughter happens in the heat of the moment during an argument. Involuntary manslaughter covers accidental deaths from careless actions or during other crimes.

The key difference is your state of mind when the death occurred. Murder requires malice, but manslaughter doesn’t. Our skilled criminal attorneys can sometimes get murder charges reduced to manslaughter, greatly lowering your prison terms. We study every detail of your case to find ways to reduce such charges.

Special Circumstances and the Death Penalty

California law lists specific “special circumstances” that can lead to the death penalty. These include killing multiple people, killing a police officer, murder for money, or murder during crimes like robbery or sex crimes.

Special circumstance cases can result in either death or life without parole. Our criminal lawyers have handled these high-stakes cases and work with experts to fight these serious charges. We work hard for fair treatment, no matter how heavy the burden of your charges.

Why You Need an Experienced Criminal Lawyer

When facing murder charges, having an experienced criminal defense attorney is vital. Homicide cases need specialized legal knowledge that comes only from years of practicing criminal defense law. Your future depends on having a lawyer who knows both the laws and how local courts work.

Our defense lawyers bring insights from handling many murder cases throughout the Bay Area. We know how prosecutors work and how to counter their methods. From challenging evidence to questioning witnesses, our team’s extensive experience helps in every part of your case.

We also guide you through the emotional journey of a criminal case. Our lawyers are both legal defenders and trusted advisors, helping you make smart choices while dealing with serious criminal charges. With Summit Defense, you have a committed team fighting for you.

Potential Defenses in Murder Cases

Building a strong defense against murder charges takes a deep understanding of criminal defense law and a careful review of your case. Our Bay Area murder lawyers examine every detail to find the best defense strategy. We work closely with you based on the facts and legal options available.

Self-Defense and Justifiable Homicide

California law says you can protect yourself or others from harm. If you reasonably thought you were in danger of being killed or hurt badly, you may have a valid self-defense claim. This can change what prosecutors call “murder” into a legal act of protection.

We gather evidence about threats you faced, why you felt in danger, and whether your response was reasonable. Our criminal defense law firm knows how to present these facts clearly to help your case.

Lack of Intent (Accidental Killing)

Murder charges require intent or at least extreme disregard for life. If a death happened by accident without criminal carelessness, it may not be murder or even manslaughter. Our defense team works to show when deaths result from true accidents rather than crimes.

We look at physical evidence, what witnesses say, and what experts think to show you didn’t have the intent needed for murder. By showing factors that point to accident rather than intent, we can sometimes get charges dismissed or reduced to lesser charges.

Alibi and Mistaken Identity

If you weren’t there when the crime happened, you can’t be guilty. Proving you were somewhere else through witness statements, video, phone records, or other evidence makes a strong defense. People are also sometimes wrongly identified as criminals.

Our defense team carefully investigates to verify where you were. We also examine witness identifications, which research shows are often wrong. By showing problems in witness accounts or proving you were elsewhere, we create reasonable doubt about your involvement in any criminal cases.

Police Misconduct and Evidence Suppression

When police break proper procedures or violate your rights, their evidence may be thrown out of court. This includes evidence from illegal searches, forced confessions, or questioning without proper warnings.

Our criminal attorneys review police reports, recordings, and search warrants to find misconduct. We file legal motions to suppress tainted evidence, which can sometimes get cases dismissed when key evidence becomes unusable in court.

Consequences of a Murder Conviction

A murder conviction brings some of the harshest penalties in our legal system. Beyond prison, it affects every part of your life and your family’s lives. Understanding these life-altering consequences shows why you need experienced legal counsel from a strong criminal defense law firm.

Life Sentences in California

California has several types of life sentences for murder convictions: • 25 years to life for first-degree murder, • Life without parole for special circumstance cases, • 15 years to life for second-degree murder.

The type of sentence greatly affects your future. With some sentences, you might get parole after serving your minimum time. Our attorneys fight for your freedom but also work to get the lightest possible sentence if a conviction can’t be avoided.

Death Penalty Cases in the Bay Area

While California hasn’t executed anyone since 2006, the death penalty remains possible for special-circumstance murder cases. Bay Area prosecutors rarely seek this punishment, but it’s still the most serious penalty possible.

Our defense team has special experience with capital cases. We work with experts and gather evidence about your background to argue against the death penalty in San Francisco, San Jose, and across the Bay Area.

Collateral Consequences (Family, Employment, Housing)

Beyond prison, a murder conviction changes your life forever. You may lose rights as a parent, face deportation if you are not a citizen, and find it hard to get jobs, housing, and education after release.

These effects hurt your family members, too, who suffer emotional and financial hardships while you’re in prison. We think about these wider impacts when building our defense strategy.

FAQs

Here are answers to common questions about murder charges in Northern California:

Contact Our Bay Area Murder Lawyer for a Free Case Consultation

If you face murder charges in the Bay Area, get help now. Our experienced criminal defense team offers free, confidential consultations to discuss your case and explain how we can help with your defense. Call Summit Defense today. We serve clients throughout San Francisco, San Jose, and all Bay Area counties. Let us put our extensive experience to work for you during this hard time.