Seattle Murder Defense Lawyer

Murder is one of the most serious charges you can face, which means you’ll need an equally serious legal team to fight for you. At Puget Law Group, we understand how stressful and frightening it can be to face these allegations, which is why our Seattle homicide defense lawyers are here to provide the strong legal defense you need to persevere.

We are the premier criminal and injury law firm in the Pacific Northwest and have protected thousands of individuals from severe convictions. Count on a Seattle murder defense attorney from our team to do everything they can to help you avoid a lengthy prison sentence. 

Murder Charges Our Seattle Defense Attorneys Can Fight

In most cases, murder charges are brought against someone suspected of the intentional and direct killing of another person. That said, there are distinct types, or degrees, of murder that you can be charged with.

If you’re facing imprisonment and other life-altering consequences from a murder charge, you’ll want to work with an attorney who has extensive experience defending clients who’ve faced the same charges as you. 

At Puget Law Group, our criminal defense lawyers from Seattle, WA, have represented clients accused of the following degrees of murder:

Murder in the First Degree

First-degree murder is a Class A Felony and the most severe charge you can receive. According to RCW 9A.32.030(1)(c), you could receive this charge if you are suspected of the premeditated and intentional killing of another person. 

You could also face this charge if you engaged in behavior that put others at serious risk of death, resulting in the death of another person. Lastly, you could be charged with murder in the first degree if you killed someone while committing or attempting to commit one of the following crimes:

• Robbery in the first or second degree
• Rape in the first or second degree
• Burglary in the first degree
• Arson in the first or second degree
• Kidnapping in the first or second-degree

If you killed a person who wasn’t participating in the crime during, in the furtherance of, or while fleeing from the scene of one of the above-listed crimes, you could face first-degree murder charges. You could also face these charges if one of the other participants in the crime killed someone unless you can provide a preponderance of evidence showing all of the following:

• You did not commit, command, request, importune, solicit, aid, or cause the homicidal act in any way
• You were not armed with any weapon, article, instrument, or substance that could be readily used to cause serious injury or death
• You had no sensible reason to believe that any other of the participants in the crime had any such weapon, article, instrument, or substance
• You had no reason to believe that any of the other participants in the crime had intent to behave in a way that would probably result in serious injury or death

Since murder is a strike offense, a murder conviction could land you in prison for life without the possibility of parole. You’ll need a skilled Seattle murder defense attorney from our team. 

Depending on your situation, a lawyer from our firm will work hard to prove your innocence, claim the crime you’re accused of was justifiable homicide, or that it was committed in self-defense.

Murder in the Second Degree

Second-degree murder is also a strike offense and Class A Felony but is a slightly less severe charge than first-degree murder. However, if convicted of murder in the second degree, you could still face 10 to 40 years of imprisonment.

You could be charged with murder if you intentionally, but without premeditation, caused the death of another person. You could also face these charges if you killed someone while committing or attempting to commit a felony, including assault and excluding the crimes listed in RCW 9A.32.030(1)(c). 

If you or another participant in the crime killed someone who wasn’t participating in the crime during, in the furtherance of, or while fleeing from the scene of the crime, you could be charged with murder unless you provide a preponderance of evidence showing the following:

• You did not commit, command, request, importune, solicit, aid, or cause the homicidal act in any way
• You were not armed with a weapon, article, instrument, or substance that could be readily used to cause serious injury or death
• You had no sensible reason to believe that any other of the participants in the crime had any such weapon, article, instrument, or substance
• You had no reason to believe that any of the other participants in the crime had intent to behave in a way that would probably result in serious injury or death

Our Seattle Murder Defense Attorneys Will Build a Strong Defense on Your Behalf

If convicted of either degree of murder, you could face a lengthy prison sentence, if not a lifetime of imprisonment. Fortunately, our team will work tirelessly to help you avoid the worst consequences. We’ll conduct a thorough investigation and collect all the evidence we can find.

Once we’ve gathered and analyzed relevant evidence, we’ll work tirelessly to build one of the following defenses on your behalf:

• Self-defense
• Defense of others
• Justifiable homicide
• Excusable homicide

Fighting a murder charge is not something you’ll want to do without the assistance of a seasoned attorney. You can count on our murder defense attorneys from Seattle, WA, to take all the steps required to combat your charges. 

No matter how severe the accusations you’re facing are, we’ll work hard to increase your chances of receiving reduced penalties. 

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Murder Defense Lawyer From Seattle

Since 2013, our team has provided compassionate legal counsel and fierce representation for individuals charged with a number of serious crimes. Over the years, we’ve gained a great deal of experience and secured many impressive case results.

When you work with a Seattle murder defense lawyer from Puget Law Group, you can be confident that they have the legal knowledge and resources required to obtain the outcome you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can protect your freedom, livelihood, and future.