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Defending against murder charges
Experienced California Defense Attorneys
First and second-degree murder charges under Penal Code 187 are very serious and have very grave consequences for persons convicted. For that reason, a person charged with murder should seek legal counsel right away to determine what kind of defenses can be developed to defend the charge and to preserve evidence and witness statements in advance of trial.
Don’t lose hope. We will devote the necessary resources to defend you against these charges. You should not have to shoulder the burden of such serious charges alone. Give yourself a fighting chance by hiring a private criminal defense team with proven results at Amicus Legal Group.
Amicus Legal Group Fights for Clients
We devote the necessary resources to defend clients who are facing serious charges throughout California. Our legal team has successfully defended many individuals against the most serious of charges. If you decide to work with us, you can anticipate that we will:
- Hire expert witnesses and outside investigators
- Investigate the facts of your case
- Keep you informed at each step of the case
- Negotiate alternative sentencing, where possible
- Ensure you are aware of your risks and opportunities
Greater Los Angeles Murder Defense Lawyers
Potential Defenses Against Murder Charges
Numerous potential legal defenses can reduce your charges or prevent a conviction altogether. The arguments that your lawyer can make will depend on the evidence, facts, and circumstances of your case. Your defense attorney should be considering each possible defense, including:
- Charges not filed against the right person
- Acting in self-defense
- Acting the defense of others
- Insanity
- Accidental death
- Unreliable evidence
You can defend yourself against these charges and are innocent under the law unless a jury determines otherwise. Do not allow prosecutors to paint a different picture of the events—hire a criminal defense attorney who will fight back, point-for-point.
Penalties for Murder Convictions in California Are Steep
The penalties for a murder conviction are too severe to leave things to chance. The type of sentence you can expect to receive for a conviction depends upon the type of charge you are facing.
The punishments for each type of murder (Penal Code 187) charge are as follows:
Capital murder
Potential penalties include the death penalty or life in prison.
First-degree murder
25 years to life in state prison.
Second-degree murder
15 years to life in state prison.
Not only is a lengthy prison sentence on the line, but other consequences could include:
Higher sentences for murders with firearms
Additional sentencing for gang activity
Victim restitution
Fines up to $10,000
Reduced custody credits, and much more
Facing Civil Charges
In addition to criminal charges, the family of the victim can also bring suit for wrongful death in civil court. As the ramifications of a conviction echoes far beyond your case, do not leave things to chance and hire a private defense lawyer that puts you first.
Trust Your Defense to Amicus Legal Group
We fight for clients every day and are committed to their success since their lives depend on it. Call for a free case review because when the gavel comes down it will be too late to reconsider your choice of lawyer.
Amicus Legal Group will launch a full investigation to provide you with a defense that you or your loved one deserves. To learn more, schedule a free consultation by calling (888) 588-1777. Or, you can submit a written request through our contact form.
Client Testimonials
Dionne L.
John-Paul is a superb attorney. He was my mentor when I was in law school, and now as an attorney I still go to him for advice on complex cases. When my brother required representation I referred him to John-Paul. That is how highly I think of JP as an attorney. I would highly recommend him to anyone who needs representation.
Kit Westbrook
John-Paul is well known in our community as a smart and effective criminal defense lawyer who is sensitive to his clients’ situations and responsive to their needs. I refer my clients to him with confidence when they need help with the criminal justice system.
Lawrence Brock
Mr. Serrao worked on my DUI charge earlier this year and all I can say is WOW! Not only did he keep me updated with the case but his knowledge of the process helped calm my nerves, which was very important to me. He showed care for me as a client and I can’t thank him enough. I would recommend him to anyone in need of a quality criminal defense attorney.
Derrick J.
John-Paul is an extremely effective criminal defense attorney. The one thing that makes him stand out from other defense attorneys is that he talks to his clients to learn the circumstances surrounding their incident and then he makes a forceful and articulate argument in defense of his clients. I recommend my clients to John-Paul when they are in need of a criminal defense attorney because I know he will stand up for them.
Stephen Rinka
Attorney John Paul-Serrao helped us to win our case against the insurance company after we were involved in a traffic accident where our car was rear ended, we tried to handle it ourselves with the insurance company and they did not want to cooperate with us, so we hired Mr. Serrao and he was able to get us a settlement above with the insurance company was willing to pay. I would highly recommend him.
Lupe G.
Occasionally you meet another attorney who is so impressive both personally and professionally that you want to be affiliated with them in any way you can both personally and professionally. That is how I feel about John-Paul. I not only consider him one of the finest attorneys I know, but I now proudly call him my friend. He is among the very best.
David Booth
I had the pleasure of working a very large scale drug case with Mr. Serrao, representing co-defendants. Mr. Serrao was a pleasure to work with. Highly skilled and very aggressive in his advocacy on his client’s behalf. I highly recommend Mr. Serrao for anyone looking for a criminal defense attorney.
Babak Farahan
