MURDER AND HOMICIDE
Boston Murder Defense Lawyer / Fighting Homicide Charges in MA
Massachusetts homicide laws are as complex as they are serious. Depending on a number of factors, the potential consequences and defenses vary widely. In a homicide case, you have many of the same defenses that are available to you in other case – but the stakes are considerably higher. Attorney Joseph B. Simons serves clients as a Boston murder and homicide lawyer by performing an extensive investigation, and thorough discovery into the prosecution’s case.
A skillful criminal defense lawyer might present an effective alibi defense, point to exculpatory forensic evidence, attack the identification procedure used, or expose the death as a result of self-defense. When the defendant clearly committed the crime, there are other potential defenses such as “insanity,” “lack of criminal responsibility,” extreme stress, or an impaired state of mind that an experienced Boston murder and homicide criminal defense lawyer can establish.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265, Section 1, defines murder as the unlawful killing of a human being either with malice or in the commission or attempted commission of certain felonies, which is punishable by life imprisonment.
Murder committed with deliberate premeditation and malice is murder in the First Degree;
Murder committed with extreme atrocity or cruelty and with malice is murder in the First Degree;
Felony-Murder, murder committed in the commission or attempted commission of a felony punishable by a maximum sentence of imprisonment for life is murder in the First Degree; and
Murder that does not appear to be murder as enumerated above is Murder in the Second Degree.
Homicide in Massachusetts consists of several possible charges, including:
- First Degree Murder
- Second Degree Murder
- Felony Murder
- Voluntary Manslaughter
- Involuntary Manslaughter
- Attempted Murder
- Armed Assault to Murder
- Conspiracy to Commit Murder
- Motor Vehicle Homicide
If you or a loved one is facing murder and homicide charges in Massachusetts, we can help. Call us at 781-797-0555 for a free telephone consultation today.
