4 Things To Know If You’re Falsely Accused Of Homicide

(Jun. 28, 2021) — If you’ve been wrongly accused of homicide, it’s important to know the legal process you may have to deal with so you can plan and resolve your case as soon as possible. Since this accusation can turn your life around, affecting your career, family, and entire future, you have to do everything you can to clear your name and reputation.

Compared to murder, homicide is committed without malice or forethought. It means that homicides don’t come with an intention to cause serious injury or to kill.

Below are some of the things you need to know if someone falsely accuses you of homicide.

1. You Should Hire An Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer

Seek the help of a seasoned criminal defense lawyer to determine your legal options. Choose one from a reputable murder defense law firm. Here’s what an experienced lawyer can do to help you if you’re incorrectly accused of homicide:

• Review and gather more evidence
• Draft and process an affidavit (a written statement sworn to be true) on your behalf
• Represent you in court in case of a trial

2. Possible Evidence 

People can die of either natural causes or foul play, in which the person’s death can turn into a homicide or murder case. Law enforcement authorities conduct a thorough investigation and come up with a conclusion based on the pieces of evidence they have. They’re required to handle the evidence carefully and comply with standards of due diligence to build a case against any potential suspect.

If law enforcement officers suspect that you’re involved in a homicide or guilty of it, then you should be aware of the following types of evidence they may use against you:

• Eyewitness Accounts: Were you at the place of the incident? Who are the people who saw you with the victim before the crime happened? Eyewitness accounts are common pieces of evidence in homicide charges and other criminal cases. Police investigators can consider you a suspect if somebody saw you at the crime scene. A good lawyer knows that eyewitnesses can have inaccurate memory and even be influenced by cops and other authorities. Therefore, you should cooperate with your lawyer and be honest with your narration of what you were doing in the vicinity of where the crime occurred.
• DNA Evidence: Turning to this evidence is a foolproof method of identifying a homicide suspect. For instance, if your hair, fingerprints, or other biological traces show up at the crime scene, it’ll make it look as though you’re guilty of committing the crime. It’s important to work closely with your lawyer and take into account the possibility of DNA evidence mishandling, misconstruction, or manipulation.
• Circumstantial Evidence: This form of evidence is dangerous because it pertains to suppositions or certain facts supporting the conclusion of your involvement in the crime. For example, if you made a phone call to the victim, the prosecution can argue that you had something to do with the crime. Therefore, it’s crucial to hire a skilled criminal defense lawyer so you can defend yourself against such accusations.

3. Criminal Law Changes 

In Los Angeles, California, the accomplices in two high-profile killings were able to escape severe punishment due to a new murder law in the state. Before the new law, a person committing a felony could be charged with murder if their partner in crime ends up killing someone even without the person helping them in any way. Under the new California murder law, however, only major participants or accomplices who helped in facilitating the killing are charged with murder.

If the old law were still in effect, the accomplices in the two high-profile murders would be deemed culpable. However, the suspects fell outside the new law’s scope, so they were freed from liability in the murder case.

Given the real-life case above, it’s important to choose a lawyer who knows the changes that have been made to the criminal laws governing your state. Choosing a novice or inexperienced lawyer may reduce your chances of being acquitted from your case.

4. The Right Plea

Because you’re falsely accused of homicide, it’s only sensible to have a not-guilty plea. All the evidence may place you at the crime scene, but if you’re not guilty, then find the best criminal defense lawyer who’ll recheck every piece of evidence against you to free you from punishment.

This particular legal journey can be tedious and time-consuming. However, you’ll be able to handle it properly once you’ve found the right lawyer to represent you in court.

Conclusion

If you’re incorrectly accused of homicide, you need to keep yourself abreast with the right legal information by talking to a trustworthy criminal defense lawyer. Knowing the legal process involved and options available to you with the help of your lawyer will allow you to prove your innocence and get your life back.