Can a Lawyer Help if I Have Been Accused of Murder?

 Posted on December 21, 2022 in Criminal Defense

If you have been charged with murder or manslaughter in North Carolina, you can bet that prosecutors will be motivated to put you behind bars. In the face of the charges against you, it may be tempting to simply give up; after all, surely no prosecutor would bring an unwinnable case of murder or manslaughter without evidence, right? Wrong. Prosecutors can be so eager to make it look like they are punishing someone responsible for murder that they might bring a weak case or even bring a case against the wrong person. When this happens to you, you need help from a North Carolina criminal defense attorney who will help you fight to stay out of prison and continue living your life. 

How Can a Lawyer Help Someone Accused of Murder? 

It may seem like the charges against you are hopeless, but with a great defense attorney, there is always a strategy for trying to beat the charges. Your attorney will carefully look at your case and, using the facts, the prosecutor’s evidence, and your own testimony, try to create the best defense possible. Among the defenses your attorney may use are: 

• Self-defense - North Carolina has a so-called “Stand Your Ground” law that allows citizens to exercise their legal right to defend themselves without having to first retreat. If you reasonably believed that lethal force was necessary to protect yourself or someone else from imminent bodily harm or death, especially if you are at home, in your car, or at work, the right to self-defense can be a powerful defense option. 
• Mistaken identity - If you have been confused with someone else and been wrongfully identified as the perpetrator of a murder, you will need to prove that you have an alibi or that the person identifying you is wrong. 
• Insanity - When someone’s mental state makes them unable to distinguish between right and wrong, understand the consequences of a crime, or plan ahead to commit the kind of crime they have been accused of (such as first-degree murder), insanity may be an appropriate defense. 
• Accidental death - People have been killed in tragic accidents, even by seemingly minor actions like playing a prank on a friend. If you had no criminal intent to cause someone else harm and are not guilty of criminal negligence, you may be able to avoid murder charges by claiming it was an accident. 

Call a Raleigh, North Carolina Murder Defense Attorney Now

If you or a loved one have been charged with any kind of murder or manslaughter, do not delay - get legal assistance right away from an aggressive, experienced Wake County homicide defense attorney with Vasquez Law Firm, PLLC. We fight passionately for our clients’ rights and have a proven track record of obtaining results in every area of our practice. Call us now at 1-844-YO-PELEO to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Hablamos Español.

Source: 

https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_14/gs_14-17.html