Homicide Lawyers Philadelphia
If you're facing homicide charges, particularly murder , you can expect that the prosecution is going to throw everything at you. Getting a homicide conviction is a big win for the assistant district attorney bringing the case, and they'll be particularly hungry in the courtroom.
You'll want an experienced, aggressive attorney on your side - someone who can go toe-to-toe with the best prosecutors in the DA's office and push back on every assertion they make. Someone who understands strategy in homicide cases.
Philadelphia Homicide Lawyer
The tough defense of Alva & Moscow, LLC are not afraid of complex cases. They'll take on the prosecutors in your murder, manslaughter or other homicide case. Our attorneys treat every case like their clients' life depends on the results - which, in these cases, it might be. We will challenge the prosecution's evidence, seeking the have charges against you reduced or thrown out completely. Call us today at (215) 665-1695 to schedule a consultation.
We represent those accused of homicide in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, including Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester Counties, and throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Pennsylvania Homicide Information Center
Homicide Charges in Pennsylvania
Homicide itself is not a crime. Homicide means the killing of one human by another human. Homicide can sometimes be legally justified, such as the use of deadly force to protect yourself or others.
Charges involving homicide include:
Murder (18 Penn. Cons. Stat. § 2502):
Murder means the accused killed the person with the intent of committing an unlawful act with malice. There are three degrees of murder, and the degree for which a person is accused relates to the intent of the person and the actions surrounding that alleged act.
First-degree murder means that the murder was willful, deliberate and premeditated. Premeditation is the fully formed intent to kill and can be formed in seconds. This is often called "malice aforethought."
A person can also be charged with first-degree murder for being part of a conspiracy to commit murder or soliciting another to commit murder.
Second-degree murder is a homicide committed in during the perpetuation of a felony. For instance, if you are accused of robbing a bank at gunpoint and shooting and killing someone in the process, you may be accused of second-degree murder. It does not matter if the accused went into the robbery not intending to kill anyone - if he or she intended to commit the robbery, malice is inferred and you can be charged with second degree.
"In perpetuation" includes the act of escape. If, for example, the accused is speeding away from a robbery to escape capture and hits and kills a pedestrian, that person could be accused of second degree murder.
Third degree murder covers unintentional killings not under first and second-degree murder with malice.
Voluntary Manslaughter (18 Penn. Cons. Stat. § 2503):
Voluntary manslaughter can be of two types. The first is where the accused killed somebody during a brief period of "sudden and intense passion" provoked by either the victim or the person the accused intended to kill without sufficient time to cool.
It is important that there must exist legal passion (not mere words).
Such between the provocation and the killing makes elevating the charges to murder more likely. For instance, if the victim were caught by the accused in bed with his wife, and the accused pulled out a gun from his pocket and shot the victim, it might be voluntary manslaughter. If the accused went to his car, grabbed a gun, walked back into the house and shot the victim, it maybe murder. If the accused went to the car, got the gun and waited outside the house for the victim, it is much more likely to be murder.
Voluntary murder also includes a homicide committed if the accused believed he or she was in danger of death or serious bodily injury and used deadly force, but that belief was unreasonable. This is called imperfect self-defense.
Involuntary Manslaughter(18 Penn. Cons. Stat. § 2504):
If the accused did a lawful or unlawful act in a reckless or grossly negligent manner and killed someone in the process, he or she is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Involuntary manslaughter means that the death was accidental, but caused by an act so careless and irresponsible that it was criminal.
The act in question cannot merely be negligent. For instance, if the accused was carrying a gun with the safety off and it accidentally discharged and killed someone, it is unlikely to be involuntary manslaughter. If he or she was firing it into the air and a bullet hits and kills someone, it might be involuntary manslaughter.
While involuntary manslaughter is a misdemeanor, it can become a felony if the victim was younger than 12 and was under the care of the accused, or if the victim was a police officer or other law enforcement officer.
Drug Delivery Resulting in Death (18 Penn. Cons. Stat. § 2506):
If the accused sells or gives another person an illegal drug and that person dies as a result of using the drug, the person could be convicted of drug delivery resulting in death. It does not matter if the death was unintentional or caused by bad acts of the victim, like overdose.
Punishments for Philadelphia Homicide Convictions
Murder of the first degree is the only crime that carries the potential of the death penalty. After the accused is found guilty, there is a separate hearing. The jury in the case hears all relevant evidence of aggravating and mitigating circumstances including impact statements from the victim's family, and then decides between death or life in prison.
For second-degree murder, life in prison is the only option. Third degree murder carries a sentence of maximum least 20 years and no more than 40. Any murder charge can also carry a fine up to $50,000.
Voluntary manslaughter carries a potential sentence of 10 to 20 years, and a fine up to $25,000.
If the victim of involuntary manslaughter was younger than 12 and in the accused's care or was a law enforcement officer, the punishment is five to 10 years and up to a $25,000 fine. For any other victim, the sentence is two and a half to five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Drug delivery resulting in death has a maximum sentence of not more than 40 years.
<h3Fighting Homicide Charges in Pennsylvania
The prosecution must prove every element of their case beyond a reasonable doubt. It is the job of the defense to raise a reasonable doubt on the identity of the accused, or, if identity is proven, to raise a doubt on any element of the charges, or to prove an affirmative defense.
A wide range of evidence may come into play in a homicide case: the body, the weapon, motive, conversations that show intent, etc. Your Philadelphia criminal defense attorney can challenge every bit of evidence the prosecution presents by way of motions to suppress or exclude evidence. If successful, the case may be hobbled.
Vigorous cross-examination or evidence offered by the defense can render intent unclear, thus charges might be dropped to manslaughter or thrown out entirely. The difference between reduced charges in a homicide case can be measured in decades of jail time.
In any criminal matter, the defense does not have to prove anything at all, unless it is asserting what is called an "affirmative defense." Self-defense is an affirmative defense in homicide cases. You are justified in using deadly force if under the reasonable belief that it is necessary to prevent death, serious bodily injury, sexual assault or kidnapping of yourself or another person, and there was no reasonable opportunity to retreat without danger.
Insanity is another affirmative defense.
Once an affirmative defense is put into evidence, it becomes the burden of the Commonwealth to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the accused did not act either in self defense or was not legally insane at the time of the killing.
Alva & Moscow, LLC | Homicide Attorney in Philadelphia
With such dramatic charges facing you, you'll want a defense that understands strategy and can stand up to the onslaught prosecutors will try to throw at you. The experienced Philadelphia homicide lawyers of Alva & Moscow, LLC can fight for you. Call us today at (215) 665-1695 to schedule an appointment if you're facing murder, manslaughter or other homicide charges in the Philly area, including Delaware County and Montgomery County.
Pennsylvania Homicide Defense FAQs
What are the degrees of murder in Pennsylvania?
Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502, first-degree murder is an intentional killing and carries a mandatory sentence of life without parole, or the death penalty. Second-degree murder is a killing committed during a felony, also carrying mandatory life without parole. Third-degree murder covers all other malicious killings and is a first-degree felony carrying up to 40 years.
What is the difference between murder and manslaughter?
Murder requires malice. Voluntary manslaughter under 18 Pa.C.S. § 2503 applies when a killing occurs in the heat of passion following serious provocation, or under an unreasonable belief in self-defense, and is a first-degree felony carrying up to 20 years. Involuntary manslaughter involves a reckless or grossly negligent killing and is normally a first-degree misdemeanor.
Does Pennsylvania still have the death penalty?
Capital punishment remains on the books in Pennsylvania for first-degree murder with statutory aggravating circumstances, but a governor's moratorium has been in place since 2015 and no execution has been carried out since 1999. Prosecutors can still file notice of intent to seek death, which changes the structure of the case and requires specialized capital-qualified counsel.
What is felony murder in Pennsylvania?
Felony murder, charged as second-degree murder, applies when a death occurs during the commission of a felony such as robbery or burglary - even if the defendant did not intend the death and was not the person who caused it. It carries a mandatory sentence of life without parole, which is why the underlying felony charge is often where the defense concentrates.
Can self-defense be a defense to a homicide charge?
Yes. If the defense produces some evidence of justification under 18 Pa.C.S. § 505, the Commonwealth must then disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. Deadly force requires a reasonable belief of imminent death or serious bodily injury, and Pennsylvania's castle doctrine removes any duty to retreat in your home or vehicle.
Are juveniles charged with murder tried as adults in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Murder is excluded from juvenile court jurisdiction at any age in Pennsylvania, so a charged juvenile begins in adult court and must petition for decertification to juvenile court. Following Miller v. Alabama, mandatory life without parole is unconstitutional for juveniles, and juveniles convicted of first- or second-degree murder receive individualized sentences with parole eligibility.
How long does a homicide case take to resolve?
Homicide cases commonly take 18 months to three years or more from arrest to trial in Philadelphia. The timeline reflects forensic testing, expert retention, extensive pretrial motions, and court scheduling. Because the stakes are permanent, the defense investigation typically begins long before the Commonwealth has completed discovery.
Finding The Best
Attorney in Philadelphia For Your Case
If you are facing any kind of injustice, be it a wrongful criminal accusation or being injured by the negligence of another, a fearless Philadelphia attorney from Alva & Moscow, LLC can fight zealously for your rights. We can serve as your criminal defense lawyer or your personal injury attorney. We apply our principles of aggressive representation to seek the best results for you.
We represent clients throughout the Philadelphia area, including Bucks, Chester, Montgomery and Delaware Counties, as well as Pennsylvania and New Jersey.