Los Angeles Murder Defense Lawyers

Murder and Voluntary Manslaughter

All murder crimes are strikes. Murder is at the top of the list of serious and violent crimes that are considered strikes. Murder is the killing of another person "with malice aforethought", that is, generally it is an intentional killing and may have been planned. However, defendants may be charged with murder even if the killing was accidental, if it came during the commission of certain other felonies. Voluntary manslaughter is a killing without malice, but after a sudden fight or "in the heat of passion." Both are explicitly mentioned in the three strikes law.

Because these charges are so serious, it's essential to get good legal representation as soon as possible after you learn about a murder or voluntary manslaughter charge. Juries are not considered sympathetic to defendants in homicide cases, and the penalties for a murder conviction range from decades in prison to life imprisonment or the death penalty. That's true even if you have no previous strikes on your record, and a strike could substantially increase your sentence. An experienced Tustin murder defense defense attorney like the ones at Wallin & Klarich can start protecting your rights immediately, helping you through interrogations and building a case while the evidence is still fresh.

Starting to build your defense early also allows us to negotiate with prosecutors before charges are even filed. In this way, we can get less serious charges for our clients or show that the evidence doesn't support any charge at all. This is especially important if you are charged with voluntary manslaughter, some of which are considered a crime of passion. We may be able to have a charge of voluntary manslaughter reduced to involuntary manslaughter, which is not a strike, if we can show that the accused was acting in reasonable self-defense or did not intend to kill.

Wallin & Klarich approaches each case as if we were defending one of our own family members. That approach means we strive to be available to our clients and their families literally at all times, 24 hours a day, every day of the week, every day of the year. We also maintain more than 20 offices throughout Southern California, from San Diego to Riverside to Ventura, so we can be wherever you need us. We have more than 30 years of legal experience, during which we've successfully defended thousands of clients, so we understand the law and how to work with the system to best protect your freedom and your family.

If you or someone you care about is charged with a homicide crime under the three strikes law, you need good legal advice, fast. Contact the Los Angeles voluntary manslaughter defense lawyers at Wallin & Klarich today for a free consultation by calling 1-888-287-3485 or filling out our confidential Web contact form.

At Wallin & Klarich, we approach every case with the belief that the person we're defending could easily be one of our own family members. We've seen firsthand how stressful legal matters can be for our clients and their loved ones. We are committed to being available to our clients at all times -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges in Southern California, you should call Wallin & Klarich today for a free evaluation of your case. Call 1-888-287-3485 or fill out our online consultation form to get in contact with a legal professional today. We will be there when you call.