Murder Defense Lawyer
Tenacious Murder Defense Lawyer to Help You Fight Criminal Prosecution
Karren Kenney is a criminal defense lawyer who has proudly focused her career on helping Southern California residents charged with murder and other serious offenses. Ms. Kenney is a former Public Defender who has conducted over 80 jury trials and has helped countless clients obtain favorable results, taking into account the circumstances of their specific situations and goals. She will work tirelessly to learn the details of your case and pursue a reduction or even a dismissal of charges against you.
Fighting Murder Charges
Like any other state, California considers murder a serious crime and assigns severe penalties for defendants convicted of it. If you have been charged with any degree of this offense, it is crucial to get a skilled attorney who can mount a defense in your case. The definition of murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought. In short, a charge of this crime requires an intentional act to take away another person’s life. Don’t get incorrectly charged, contact a murder defense attorney to ensure your freedom.
In California, murder may be charged as first degree or second degree. The distinction can depend on a variety of factors. If a person deliberately commits murder using a gun, an explosive, poison, or similar weapons, the offense will be charged as first-degree murder. This level of the offense also includes but is not limited to a homicide committed during a robbery, rape, burglary, kidnapping, or drive-by shooting. Otherwise, a murder will be often be charged as second degree.
If a person is convicted of murder in the first degree in California, he or she could potentially face a sentence of 25 years to life or life imprisonment without parole. A conviction for murder in the second degree is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 15 years to life. Drive-by shooting murders carry an enhanced sentence of 20 years to life.
Even when you are faced with a charge of this gravity, there are ways to mitigate the consequences or avoid them entirely. First, the prosecution is required to prove all of the elements of its case beyond a reasonable doubt, including malice. In addition, depending on the degree of murder charged, it must also prove either premeditation or another type of deliberation. If the prosecution is unable to meet its high burden with regard to any of these mental states, it may settle for a charge of a lesser included offense like manslaughter. Self-defense is also often a viable defense, depending on the circumstances of your case.
Lastly, even if a verdict of guilty is reached in a murder trial, factors known as “mitigating circumstances” may be able to reduce the potential penalties. For these reasons, it is important to hire an attorney who is knowledgeable enough to explore all possible defenses.
Discuss Your Murder Charges With a Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you are facing a murder prosecution in Southern California, it is crucial that you find a skilled lawyer as soon as possible. With 20 years of experience representing people charged with serious crimes, felony defense attorney Karren Kenney has the knowledge to energetically defend your murder case. In one of her most notable achievements, Ms. Kenney recently represented a client charged with first-degree murder and secured a verdict of not guilty.
The dedicated team at Kenney Legal Defense assists individuals throughout Southern California. Call (855) 505-5588 or contact us online for an initial consultation at no cost to you