Granbury, Texas Murder Defense Attorney

Meet Our Criminal Defense Attorney

Rob Christian
Board Certified^®

Murder Defense Attorney Helping Texas Residents of Hood County Accused of a Violent Crime

Murder generally involves the willful killing of a person by another. A death that results from an argument, a fight, or during the commission of a crime is considered murder. Attempted murder and assault with intent to kill are included in statistics as aggravated assaults. In a recent year, there were 1,927 murders across the state of Texas.

What some states refer to as "first-degree murder" is referred to as "capital murder" in Texas. Murder charges in the state can result in severe penalties—even the death penalty. It is essential that you have a strong legal advocate from The Law Offices of Rob Christian beside you from the moment you are charged. This should be the immediate priority toward protecting your rights and your future, regardless of whether you are innocent of the charges, committed the crime but with extenuating circumstances, or are guilty of the charges. Our criminal defense attorneys are here to help you determine the best defense strategies to use in your case.

Potential Murder Charges in Texas

In Texas, the term "criminal homicide" broadly defines four different categories—murder, capital murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide. Capital murder is the most serious murder charge, punishable by life in prison or the death penalty. Capital murder must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, with the standard being that the defendant intentionally or knowingly caused the death of another person. A person paid to commit murder, a person who paid another person to commit murder, or a person who kills another while trying to escape incarceration can be charged with capital murder. Capital murder can also be charged if the death occurred during a terrorist threat, an aggravated sexual assault, obstruction, or an attempted arson, burglary, robbery, or kidnapping.

The offense of "second-degree murder" is simply known as "murder" in Texas and is a first-degree felony under most circumstances. The exception to this is when a murder is committed in the heat of passion. Intent on the part of the defendant is required for murder charges. The defendant must have intentionally or knowingly caused the death or caused serious bodily injury that resulted in death. When a death occurs during the commission of a felony or the attempted commission of a felony, the defendant can also be charged with murder.

Manslaughter occurs when a death is caused by a person's reckless disregard for human life. Manslaughter can be involuntary (a death caused by negligence with no intent to kill) or voluntary (a death caused intentionally in the heat of the moment). Criminally negligent homicide is charged when a death occurs as the result of criminal negligence, like driving recklessly.

Penalties for a Murder Conviction

As noted, the penalties for a capital murder conviction can be life in prison or the death penalty. The punishment for murder—a first-degree felony—is imprisonment for no less than five years and not more than 99 years. The penalty for manslaughter—a second-degree felony—is between two and 20 years in jail and a fine as large as $10,000. The penalty for criminally negligent homicide—a state jail felony—is jail time for a period of up to two years and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Defenses Used for Texas Murder Chargers

The defense your attorney uses for your Texas murder charges will depend on the circumstances and facts surrounding your charges. Your case is unique, and the defense used will depend on many different circumstances. In general, the following defenses for capital murder, murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide include:

• Justification—the defendant does not dispute they killed another person but claims justification. Justification defenses can include self-defense, defense of others, and exercise of duty, with self-defense being the most common. For a self-defense claim to succeed, the defendant must have had a reasonable fear of death or serious physical harm. However, the defendant must not have instigated the threatening situation, and the degree of force must be proportional to the perceived threat.
• The death was an accident, which means there was no intent to cause harm. An accidental death defense is stronger if the defendant was engaged in a legal activity at the time of the death. If it can be proven the death was accidental, the charges may be reduced to criminally negligent homicide.
• The insanity defense holds that the defendant is cognitively unable to appreciate the act committed is legally or morally wrong. A defendant acquitted of murder by reason of insanity will typically face a long period of mental institutionalization.
• Claiming the murder occurred in the heat of passion—i.e., the defendant came home and found their spouse in bed with another—could potentially reduce the charges from murder to manslaughter. A heat of passion murder is not premeditated; rather, it is a spontaneous reaction.
• If the police committed specific errors during the arrest or denied the defendant his or her Constitutional rights, the charges could potentially be reduced or dropped altogether, depending on the level of error.

Contact a Granbury, Texas Murder Attorney

If you are facing murder or manslaughter charges, it is crucial for your future that you speak to a knowledgeable Granbury, TX murder defense lawyer as quickly as possible. Your rights need to be protected throughout the process, ensuring that you have the best chance possible for the most positive outcome. The attorneys at The Law Offices of Rob Christian answer all of your questions and ensure that you have a solid defense. Contact The Law Offices of Rob Christian at 682-936-4003 for a free consultation with a highly experienced criminal defense attorney.