Dallas Murder Lawyer

Few charges are prosecuted more harshly than those involving murder. Penalties can range from years to life in prison, hefty fines, and more. That said, if you’re currently facing murder charges in Texas, you can depend on our seasoned legal team to effectively fight for your freedom and future. Contact a Dallas murder lawyer from Spangler Law so we can get started working on your case today.

Murder Lawyer: Here to Fight for Your Future

No one should ever face a murder charge on their own. In many ways, your life is on the line. Get an aggressive Dallas County criminal lawyer from our firm in your corner who can fight for the results you need.

Murder Charges in Texas

In Texas, murder charges are treated with utmost severity. Unlike some states, Texas does not differentiate between first and second-degree murder; instead, it recognizes “murder” as a singular charge. However, if the offense occurs in the “heat of passion,” the individual may face second-degree felony charges.

A person can be charged with murder in Texas if they intentionally or knowingly cause the death of another person, intend to cause serious bodily injury that results in death, or commit or attempt to commit a felony (other than manslaughter) and in the course of committing the felony or attempting to escape, cause a death.

Penalties for a murder charge can include:

• First-degree felony murder: 5 to 99 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
• Second-degree felony (if the murder was committed in the heat of passion): 2 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Capital Murder in Texas

Capital murder is the most serious homicide charge in Texas, encompassing specific circumstances that elevate a murder to a capital offense. A person commits capital murder if they intentionally commit murder under the following conditions:

• The victim is a peace officer or fireman acting in their official capacity.
• The murder occurs during the commission or attempted commission of kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, obstruction, retaliation, or terroristic threat.
• The murder is for remuneration or promise of remuneration.
• The murder occurs during an escape or attempt to escape from a penal institution.
• The murder is of a correctional officer while the person is incarcerated.
• The murder is of more than one person during the same criminal transaction or pursuant to the same scheme or course of conduct.
• The victim is under ten years of age.
• The murder is committed in retaliation for or on account of the service or status of the victim as a judge or justice of any court.

Penalties for capital murder include:

• Death penalty
• Life imprisonment without parole

Murder Defenses

The specific defense your lawyer uses to combat your murder charge will depend on a variety of factors, but some of the most common defenses against murder charges include the following:

• Self-Defense: Arguing that the accused acted in self-defense to protect themselves from imminent harm.
• Defense of Others: Asserting that the accused was defending another person from immediate danger.
• Insanity Defense: Claiming that the accused was not in a sound state of mind at the time of the murder.
• Lack of Intent: Demonstrating that the killing was accidental and without intent to cause death.
• Mistaken Identity: Proving that the accused was not the person who committed the crime.
• Violation of Constitutional Rights: Arguing that evidence was obtained illegally and should be excluded from the trial.

Contact a Dallas, Texas Murder Lawyer Today

Here at Spangler Law, we honor the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and our job is to preserve our clients’ freedom. If you’re facing a murder charge in Texas, simply contact Spangler Law today for a free initial consultation.