Murder is a serious criminal charge that carries severe consequences. Prosecutors and law enforcement authorities aggressively pursue murder to get a conviction. When convicted, you could get capital punishment or life imprisonment without parole. After being arrested and charged with murder in North Carolina, keep in mind that the trial’s outcome will impact your freedom, life, and future. Because a lot is at stake, you must speak with The Snow Legal Group criminal defense attorney who will utilize all resources available to build a strong defense in the case of the prosecutor.
Kinds of Murder
If you are charged with murder, your charges can be categorized based on the details of the crime:
- First-degree murder. You can be charged with this crime if you committed it with premeditation and acted upon it.
- Second-degree murder. This is not premeditated murder. This occurs when you do not intend to kill the victim.
- Felony murder. This happens when the victim accidentally lost their life while you committed a felony such as burglary, arson, robbery, kidnapping, or rape.
In murder cases in North Carolina, prosecutors should prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you had malice and premeditated killing the victim deliberately before doing it. A skilled criminal defense attorney can poke holes in the evidence of the prosecutors to weaken their arguments.
Penalties for Murder
Under state law, the circumstances surrounding the murder will have a direct influence on the seriousness of the sentencing. In addition, penalties can be increased with aggravating factors. Meanwhile, mitigating factors may minimize the seriousness of punishment. Also, your criminal history could affect the consequences you might face. Possible penalties for murder may include the following:
- First-degree murder and felony murder. Because this murder is a Class A felony, a conviction can leave you spending a lifetime in prison without parole or the death penalty.
- Second-degree murder. A conviction of this Class B1 felony can result in you spending 192 months to a lifetime in prison. A Class B2 felony conviction is punishable with up to 125 months imprisonment.
If you have been arrested for murder, the prosecution and police may initiate a plea bargain of deceased jail time as long as you plead guilty to the crime. Speak with an experienced murder attorney who can better negotiate a deal for you. Also, your attorney will demand access to all pieces of evidence possessed by the prosecutor as well as consult with experts and private investigators to verify this evidence.
