Last Updated on: 17th October 2023, 07:00 pm

How a Lawyer Can Help with Manslaughter Charges

Being charged with manslaughter can be an incredibly scary and overwhelming experience. Manslaughter is a serious criminal offense that carries significant penalties, including lengthy prison sentences in some cases. Having an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side can make all the difference in these types of cases.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly how a lawyer can help if you or a loved one is facing manslaughter charges. We’ll cover the specific ways a lawyer can defend against the charges, negotiate with the prosecution, and advocate for the best possible outcome given the circumstances.

Understanding Manslaughter Charges

First, it’s important to understand what manslaughter entails legally. Manslaughter falls into two main categories:

• Voluntary manslaughter – When someone kills another person in the heat of passion after being provoked.
• Involuntary manslaughter – When someone unintentionally kills another person through a negligent or reckless act.

Examples of involuntary manslaughter could include accidentally killing someone while driving drunk, or a construction worker dying on a site due to a company’s negligent safety practices. There is also something called vehicular manslaughter, which is when someone dies as the result of reckless or negligent driving.

Manslaughter is different from murder in that murder requires malice aforethought or the intent to kill, while manslaughter does not. However, manslaughter is still treated as a very serious crime that can result in years or even decades behind bars.

Negotiating with the Prosecutor

Another way your lawyer can assist is by negotiating with the prosecutor prior to trial. A skilled negotiator may be able to get charges reduced or even dismissed through this process. Or, they may be able to work out a plea deal for a lesser offense like:

• Negligent homicide – Similar to involuntary manslaughter but a lesser charge.
• Assault charges – If manslaughter charges seem excessive.
• Obstruction of justice – For lesser roles like helping cover up a crime.

The punishment and sentencing implications are far less severe with these lesser offenses. Your attorney’s experience negotiating manslaughter cases could make the difference between a 5 year plea deal or a 20 year sentence after trial.

Navigating the Trial Process

If a plea deal can’t be reached, then having a lawyer who knows how to effectively argue a manslaughter case in court is crucial. This starts with jury selection, where your lawyer will try to ensure a jury that is as favorable as possible. It continues through the trial itself, where a lawyer would:

• Make persuasive opening and closing arguments.
• Effectively cross-examine the prosecution’s witnesses.
• Object to evidence that should be inadmissible.
• Present witnesses and evidence that support your defense.
• Seek to have unfavorable evidence excluded.

Your lawyer’s courtroom skills and ability to argue the evidence before a jury could be the difference between a guilty verdict or an acquittal. Even if found guilty, their advocacy during trial could influence whether you receive the high end or low end of the sentencing range.

Takeaways

The bottom line is that facing manslaughter charges puts you in a complex, high-stakes legal situation with your future on the line. An experienced criminal defense lawyer has the skills and knowledge to defend your rights and advocate for the best resolution possible. From reviewing evidence and building a defense, to negotiating plea deals or arguing your case at trial, a lawyer can be the difference between prison time and preserving your freedom.

Don’t take chances by trying to navigate manslaughter charges alone. Consult with a criminal defense attorney as early as possible for trusted advice and representation.