St. Louis Murder Lawyer

Murder is understandably one of the most serious charges that exists in our criminal justice system. The law is complicated and the subject matter is sensitive. Needless to say, each murder and attempted murder charge has a very unique set of circumstances. To complicate matters, homicide cases by nature, involve the loss of a life; prosecutors almost always take a tough stance on serious jail time and mandatory minimum percentages. Our lawyers have defended both murder and attempted murder cases to successful NOT GUILTY verdicts at jury trial. It is absolutely crucial that the murder attorney you hire has experience with murder trials. When the stakes are so high and with the loss of a life pressuring judges and prosecutors to go after tough sentences; a trial might be your ONLY option to avoid spending the rest of your life in jail. The top-rated murder attorneys at The People’s Counsel have the necessary experience to navigate the uncertain and scary waters of a homicide charge.

REDUCED CHARGES

In our criminal justice system, there are almost always tiers of charges within the category. The differences in possible punishments depend upon what particular homicide charge you are facing. For example First Degree Murder, the highest murder charge there is, comes with a minimum of life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death penalty. On the other end of the homicide spectrum is Involuntary Manslaughter in the second degree; this homicide charge carries a maximum of 4 years in jail and has no mandatory percentage to be served before eligible for parole. Needless to say, you will want a murder attorney with the knowledge and experience to navigate the charges because the difference could mean life in prison versus a timeout in prison. Another reason it is critical to have an experienced murder attorney on your side if you are interested in reduced charges is because their reputation might be one of your best defenses. More so than any other type of case, your attorney’s reputation when it comes to murder charges is paramount in negotiating a reduced charge. The top murder attorneys at The People’s Counsel have an excellent reputation for winning murder trials. This undeniably gives our attorneys an advantage when negotiating with prosecutors for reduced charges. With the stakes being so high, prosecutors will often consider reduced charges as part of a plea bargain as opposed to potentially losing the entire case at a jury trial. Of course, the main reason you will want an experienced murder lawyer in your corner is because more so than other cases, these cases end in a trial.

TRIAL

The People’s Counsel is home to one of the best murder lawyers in Missouri. We are proud to have attorney Charles Barberio leading our team of homicide attorneys. He has tried numerous murder cases and attempted murder cases to outright NOT GUILTY verdicts at jury trial. Our experienced murder attorneys have the legal knowledge and the trial skill to win murder cases. The proof is in their distinguished track record for winning tough murder cases. This track record is obviously appreciated by our clients; but just as importantly it is recognized and respected by prosecutors and judges. We often have judges stopping our attorneys in the back halls of the courthouses to offer their congratulations or inquire about our most recent murder trial victory. These types of cases aren’t easy and the emotional toll they can take on the jury needs to be considered carefully. Our top-rated lawyers will balance an aggressive defense with the humbleness and respect the situation deserves.

murder case successes

Murder 1st Degree:

Class A Felony | 10 years – life sentence or death penalty

– A person commits the offense of murder in the first degree if he or she knowingly causes the death of another person after deliberation on the matter

RSMo 565.020

Murder 2nd Degree:

Class A Felony | 10 years – life sentence

A person commits the offense of murder in the second degree if he or she:

– (1) Knowingly causes the death of another person or, with the purpose of causing serious physical injury to another person, causes the death of another person; or

– (2) Commits or attempts to commit any felony, and, in the perpetration or the attempted perpetration of such felony or in the flight from the perpetration or attempted perpetration of such felony, another person is killed as a result of the perpetration or attempted perpetration of such felony or immediate flight from the perpetration of such felony or attempted perpetration of such felony.

RSMo 565.021

Voluntary Manslaughter:

Class B Felony | 5 years – 15 years

A person commits the offense of voluntary manslaughter if he:

– (1) Causes the death of another person under circumstances that would constitute murder in the second degree under subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of section 565.021, except that he caused the death under the influence of sudden passion arising from adequate cause; or

– (2) Knowingly assists another in the commission of self-murder.

RSMo 565.023

Involuntary Manslaughter:

Class C Felony | 1 year – 7 years

– A person commits the offense of involuntary manslaughter in the first degree if he or she recklessly causes the death of another person.

RSMo 565.024

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between murder and manslaughter?

The answer is complicated but is rooted in the “intent” requirement for the charge. Any killing done intentionally is Murder. Reckless, negligent, sudden heat of passion killings are often considered Manslaughter.

So what does that mean for my case?

There is a considerable difference in prison sentences depending on what you are charged with and in what degree. Being guilty of 2nd Degree Murder could be the difference between a Life Sentence and 10 years. A client may wish to go to trial to show that the killing was not a murder but was rather a manslaughter because the punishment is significantly less and the mandatory minimums are much lower. There will be many tough choices along the way in any case regarding the loss of a life; our firm and experience will be there to guide you throughout the process up to and including a murder trial. Rest assured that our attorneys have handled the most serious of cases to NOT GUILTY verdicts at trial.

Call us today for a free consultation on your rights and the legal process.

★★★★★ “Highly recommend if you are looking for a trustworthy team to work on your behalf!” —Ashley Rohr
★★★★★ “Charles and Tom are the BEST criminal defense lawyers EVER!!” —James Tucker
★★★★★ “Great price, great communication, great lawyer!!” —Teighlor Payne
★★★★★ “I have worked with Charles Barberio twice now and have been incredibly impressed with his professionalism…” —Carrie Gracey
★★★★★ “Counselor Barberio is prompt and fair. He has always taken care of whatever legal needs arise.” —Alex Fechner
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