Houston Homicide Defense Lawyer

Delivering Legal Representation with Integrity

In Texas, "homicide" is an umbrella term encompassing four types of conduct that result in another person's death. The four criminal homicide offenses include murder, capital murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide. Each of the crimes is serious, with convictions resulting in lengthy prison sentences and steep fines. Seeking to obtain a conviction and have you punished to the full extent of the law, the prosecutor will leverage their considerable resources to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you're guilty. If you have been accused of homicide in Houston, it's crucial to aggressively fight the accusation from the start. The most effective way to attack their claims is with the help of a skilled lawyer.

At Drehner Law, our Houston homicide defense attorney has extensive legal experience and can deliver the representation you need to challenge the allegations made against you. Attorney Shannon Drehner served as a former chief felony prosecutor, giving her unique insight into how the other side prepares for and presents cases. We will use our knowledge, skills, and legal acumen to build a solid defense on your behalf to cast doubt in the judge's or jury's minds. Focused on protecting your future and freedom, our lawyer will seek to obtain an optimal result on your behalf.

Schedule your free initial consultation by calling us at (832) 558-7798 or contacting us online today.

What Is a Homicide Charge in Texas?

As mentioned earlier, homicide is the taking of another person's life. Texas separates such acts into four different crimes, differing in their culpable mental states. A culpable mental state is a person's mindset at the time of the offense.

Homicide involves conduct done:

• Intentionally: The actor's goal is to carry out the act or cause the result.
• Knowingly: The actor is aware of what they are doing or what result will happen.
• Recklessly: The actor acts recklessly when they know what risks their actions pose but disregard those risks and continue to engage in the conduct.
• Criminally negligently: The actor should have known the substantial risks of their behavior or the result that would have occurred from engaging in certain conduct.

The type of homicide a person may be charged with depends on their state of mind at the time of the offense and who the alleged victim was.

Texas's four homicide crimes are as follows:

• Murder: Generally, this offense is committed when a person knowingly or intentionally causes another person's death. A person may also be accused of murder if they intended to seriously injure someone and death resulted, or they committed or were attempting to commit a felony and, while doing so, caused an individual's death. Murder is either a first- or second-degree felony.
• Capital murder: A person may be accused of this offense if they commit murder, and the victim was a specific person, such as a police officer or child under 10 years of age. The crime is a capital felony.
• Manslaughter: A charge for this offense arises when a person recklessly causes another's death. Manslaughter is a second-degree felony.
• Criminally negligent homicide: This offense involves the death of another caused by someone else's criminally negligent act. It is a state jail felony.

Defending Against Homicide Charges

Facing a homicide charge is serious, but just because you have been accused of an offense does not mean you are guilty of it. At Drehner Law, we believe in the presumption of innocence and will examine every detail of your case to identify problems of proof and mitigating factors. Our Houston lawyer will work tirelessly to build a unique defense for you.

We will be your zealous advocates throughout your case. To get started, call us at (832) 558-7798 or contact us online.