Salt Lake City Manslaughter Attorney

Criminal homicide is one of the most serious criminal charges that you could possibly have to deal with. The taking of another person's life is vastly important and should you be arrested, charged, or even if you have reason to believe that you are under investigation, you can waste no time in securing a heavyweight Salt Lake City criminal defense lawyer on your side to help you protect your legal rights.

What constitutes manslaughter in Salt Lake City?

Many people confuse murder and manslaughter - there are even some that blend them together, thinking that there is no difference between the two. This, however, is completely untrue. There is in fact a large difference between the charges - not only in definition, but in the way that it will be prosecuted and the way in which it will be penalized.

Unlike murder, manslaughter does not involve malicious forethought. Usually manslaughter is considered a crime of passion - committed either in reaction or after being provoked to considerable emotional distress. According to the 2010 Utah Criminal Code, 76-5-205, a crime can be considered manslaughter if the defendant either:

• Caused the death of another through reckless actions;
• Reasonably thought there was legal justification for the action under the circumstances;
• Acted under the influence of a mental illness; or
• Was placed under extreme emotional distress

Many of these circumstances can be used in defense against murder charges to reduce the penalty to a manslaughter (or attempted manslaughter). It is important to realize that although less serious than a full blown murder charge, criminal charges of this nature are still extremely severe. Should you be convicted of manslaughter, you will be facing a felony of the second degree; the associated penalties could be life-altering in nature.

Criminal Lawyer for Manslaughter Defense

When you have this much on the line, you need to be confident that you have an attorney on your side that is compassionate to what you have at risk. You do not need an apathetic or inexperienced lawyer - you need someone who will spring into action, fighting tooth and nail to get you the comprehensive legal assistance that you deserve. At the Zabriskie Law Firm, you will receive just that.

With a reputation for excellence and a track-record of being client-focused, we have shown over the years that we can take on difficult cases and be successful. When you are facing something with the potential to cause as much damage as something of this nature, we encourage you to contact us today. You can trust that we will do everything possible to help you protect your rights.

Have you been charged with manslaughter? Contact a Salt Lake City manslaughter attorney from our firm today for aggressive representation.