New Brunswick Homicide Lawyer

New Jersey attorney helps clients fight murder and manslaughter allegations

If you are accused of contributing to causing someone else’s death, you need high-level counsel from an experienced criminal defense attorney. At The Law Offices of Eric B. Morrell, I am a New Brunswick homicide lawyer who won’t let my clients be intimidated by police or prosecutors. You can rely on my firm for strong, strategic advocacy if you’ve been charged with murder, manslaughter or vehicle-related homicide in New Jersey. 

Types of homicide charges

Specific charges associated with deadly incidents include the following:

• Murder — Unlike some other jurisdictions, New Jersey does not have different degrees of murder. Taking someone else’s life intentionally or knowingly, or participating in an enumerated crime that results in someone else’s death, is a first-degree crime. 
• Aggravated manslaughter — This is a first-degree crime that can be charged for causing death due to recklessness that displays an extreme indifference toward human life. 
• Manslaughter — A second-degree crime, standard manslaughter occurs when a defendant ends someone life in the heat of passion or provocation. 
• Death by auto or vessel — Sometimes referred to as vehicular homicide, the second-degree crime of death by auto or vessel can cover such situations as when a fatal accident occurs because a driver is asleep at the wheel or a boat operator is intoxicated. 

Regardless of the particular count, these cases are extremely serious. You should not hesitate to get a strong New Jersey defense lawyer on your side. 

Potential penalties for homicide in New Jersey

Murder is a first-degree crime in New Jersey, carrying a sentence of 30 years to life imprisonment. The possibility of parole can be denied when the victim was a police officer or a child under 14 years old, as well as in cases of homicides that occurred in conjunction with aggravated sexual assault or aggravated criminal sexual contact. For aggravated manslaughter, the sentence runs 10 to 30 years. The maximum prison term is reduced to 20 years for a standard manslaughter charge. Death by auto or vessel is usually a second-degree crime, which means a defendant would face five to 10 years of incarceration. Individuals convicted of a homicide crime typically are sentenced to facilities such as New Jersey State Prison (Trenton), East Jersey State Prison (Rahway) and South Woods State Prison (Bridgeton). 

Legal defenses against homicide charges

Someone accused of a homicide might be able to defeat the charge by showing they were defending themselves or someone else from a deadly threat. Another strategy is to demonstrate that the requisite frame of mind did not exist to justify a murder conviction, due to insanity or the fact that the accused was influenced by drugs or alcohol. The defendant might have a valid alibi, be the victim of mistaken identity or show that the incident was a tragic accident. 

Difference between murder and manslaughter

Under New Jersey law, murder is intentionally or knowingly causing someone else’s death. Manslaughter is causing another person’s death where the accused allegedly acted recklessly or negligently. The charge can also be brought when a fatality occurred from acting in the heat of passion or provocation. 

Felony murder can be charged if someone dies during the commission of specific types of serious crimes, such as sexual assault, robbery, kidnapping and carjacking. Felony murder can be charged even if the defendant did not personally cause the victim’s death, such as when a police officer fatally shoots someone while trying to stop a robbery committed by the defendant. 

Steps a NJ criminal defense attorney will take to help you

If you’ve been accused of murder, manslaughter or death by auto or vessel, you need an attorney with the skill, experience and determination to take on the authorities. My firm will investigate what led up to the alleged incident and whether law enforcement violated your rights. I challenge evidence that is irrelevant, overly prejudicial or collected improperly. As a proven trial advocate, I’m always preparing to present the strongest possible case in court, but I also can negotiate for reduced charges and sentences in cases involving allegations of homicide and related crimes, such as weapons offenses. 

Contact a New Jersey for a free consultation about your legal options

The Law Offices of Eric B. Morrell in New Brunswick battles for clients accused of homicide and other crimes across Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties. For a complimentary consultation, please call 908-768-3837 or contact me online.