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Capital crimes in Florida like other states can attract the death penalty or harsh prison sentences. If you have been charged with a capital offense in the Brevard County area it is most essential to contact an attorney at Heather Harris Law to know your rights and the possibility of building a strong defense against prosecution.
First degree murder defined
In Florida, first degree murder is a capital offense with life sentencing without possibility of parole or death sentencing awarded for a conviction. It is important to understand what first-or second degree murder is defined as according to law, the penalties involved, and the type and nature of defense strategies available to you. A person is charged with First Degree Murder when he or she commits a premeditated murder or a felony murder. A premeditated murder is a preplanned act of one individual against another. A felony murder takes place when an individual kills another while engaged in an act such as and not limited to abuse of an adult, stalking, aggravated child abuse, arson, burglary, sexual battery, and placing of a bomb or other destructive device.
The consequences in a Second degree murder conviction
When a person commits a murder with a depraved mind, without any premeditated design and no regard for human life it is considered a second degree murder in Florida. The other type of second degree murder is an accomplice felony murder where an individual is an accomplice to a murder while engaged in the act or attempted act that is not limited to the abuse of an elderly person, child abuse, arson, kidnapping, sexual battery, carjacking, drug trafficking, and more. Penalties for a second degree murder can result in a minimum prison sentence addition to fines up to $10,000. A second degree murder is a Level 10 offense under Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code and is categorized as a First Degree Felony.
Hire an experienced First-or second degree attorney
Our criminal defense team at Heather Harris Law have significant experience in pretrial defenses and trial defenses of first-or second degree murders with strategies including excusable homicide, justifiable homicide, and self defense. If you need consultation and legal representation, it is important to get in touch with our attorneys at Heather Harris Law. Call us at (321) 452-7055 to fix a confidential appointment today.