Punishment for Murder in New York

If you or someone you love is facing punishment for murder, please do not hesitate to contact our Long Island attorney Michael Matera to protect your rights and have your name cleared. Our firm has more than 25 years of experience protecting the rights of the accused in our community. Call the office today to schedule your confidential consultation.

Punishment for Murder in the First Degree

If you have been charged with first-degree murder, you may worry about your future as the punishment for murder in the first degree will likely impact the rest of your life.

The penalties for this crime include life in prison without the possibility of parole or imprisonment for 20-25 years. This applies to adults 18 years or older.

Some possible defenses include self-defense, mental illness, or defending a third person. If you face punishment for first-degree murder, please reach out to our Long Island murder defense lawyer immediately.

Defining First-Degree Murder

First-degree murder is a crime in which someone intends to kill someone else and engages in behavior that causes their death.

The following is an example of first-degree murder:

James comes home to find that his teenage daughter has been sexually assaulted and is in bad shape after a physical altercation with the assailant. He rushes her to the ER to get care for her injuries and have a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit performed. While waiting at the hospital with his daughter, James learns that the assailant is a neighborhood boy. Hours later, James takes his daughter home, loads his gun, and heads to the boy’s house. He shoots and kills the boy who his daughter named as the assailant.

This would be first-degree murder because James shot to kill, and there was enough time for James to have premeditated the crime.

James would be facing punishment for murder in the first degree.

Punishment for Murder in the Second Degree

Second-degree murder penalties may have you facing life in prison or 15-25 years of prison. While this is slightly lesser than the penalties for first-degree murder, it could still mean spending your life behind bars. Again, this applies to adults 18 years or older.

The possible defenses we can use for you are the same as first-degree murder. We urge you to schedule a consultation immediately if you face punishment for murder in the second degree.

Defining Second-Degree Murder

Second-degree murder is a charge for engaging in conduct that causes someone’s death, but it was not premeditated.

The following is an example of second-degree murder:

Amber was coming home from a trip with her sister. They were scheduled to drive home on Sunday, but due to a family emergency, they left early. Amber did not relay the change of plans to her fiancé. Upon arriving home after dropping her sister off, Amber notices a car in the driveway she does not recognize. Amber lets herself into the house and hears a commotion from her bedroom. She opens the door to find her fiancé in bed with another woman who flees out of the house. In a rage, Amber beats and strangles her fiancé to death.

This would be a second-degree murder charge because this was a heat-of-the-moment crime with the intent to kill but was not premeditated.

Amber would be facing punishment for murder in the second degree.

Types of Homicide Charges

Murder and homicide are two different types of charges. Homicide is still a severe charge, but some of the penalties are not as severe as the punishment for murder.

Unintentional homicide is a crime by which the accused is charged with unintentionally causing someone’s death. It could be related to a low-level crime or negligence. An example would be if you left your gate open, your dog got out and killed someone.

Manslaughter is broken into two categories: involuntary and voluntary.

An example of involuntary manslaughter would be if you were committing a robbery when the victim trips trying to get away from you, resulting in fatal injuries.

Voluntary manslaughter could be a heat-of-the-moment crime where you did not plan to kill someone, but you knew your actions could result in their death, such as engaging in a bar fight.

Contact Our Long Island Murder Defense Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one are facing punishment for murder, please do not hesitate to give our office a call to schedule your confidential consultation with our Long Island criminal defense lawyer Michael Matera.