Our New Jersey Murder Law Firm Explains Your Possible Defenses
Fighting Murder or Attempted Murder Charges Requires a New Jersey Murder Law Firm with a Proven Record of Success at Trial
When you are charged with murder or attempted murder in New Jersey, it can seem like your case is over before it has even begun. The police and prosecutors will do everything in their power to convince you that you don’t stand a chance at trial, and you will quickly learn how New Jersey’s criminal justice system is in many ways structured to steer cases toward conviction. But, your case isn’t over, and an experienced New Jersey murder law firm can take steps to protect you. We should know—our firm has been successfully defending clients against murder charges in New Jersey for nearly 30 years.
To be clear, facing a murder or attempted murder charge is an extraordinarily serious matter, and neither Helmer, Conley & Kasselman nor any other New Jersey murder law firm can guarantee that you will walk free at the end of your case. Depending on the circumstances of your case, a successful outcome might even mean pleading to a lesser charge that still leaves you with a life-altering criminal record. However, what we can promise you is that we are extremely confident in our ability to defend any client effectively, and we will use our attorneys’ centuries of combined legal experience to build and execute what we believe is the strongest possible defense.
Proving Your Mental State is a Key Element of the Prosecution’s Case
While the differences between murder and attempted murder may seem obvious (one results in death, the other does not), there are actually many more nuanced differences under New Jersey law. For example, while it is not necessary to purposefully kill someone in order to be guilty of murder, in order to be guilty of attempted murder there must be evidence that you acted with the subjective intent to kill. Your mental state is a key element of the prosecution’s case, and this means that challenging the sufficiency (and admissibility) of the prosecution’s evidence of your mental state is a key defense strategy as well.
Our New Jersey Murder Law Firm Explains The Use of Deadly Force in Self-Defense
But, let’s say that the prosecution has the evidence it needs to prove you had the requisite mental state for criminal culpability. Does this mean that you are going to be convicted at trial?
Not necessarily. While your mental state is a key element, it is far from the only element that the prosecution needs to prove. For example, if you acted in self-defense, you may have had the subjective intent to kill in order to save your own life, but you may have also had legal justification for the use of deadly force. This is just one example of numerous potential defenses that our New Jersey murder lawyer may be able to raise on your behalf, and we will need to examine the facts of your case in detail in order to determine which defenses you have available.
Schedule a Confidential Initial Consultation with a Top New Jersey Murder Attorney
If you need a murder defense attorney in New Jersey, we encourage you to contact us immediately to discuss your case. To speak with a New Jersey murder attorney in confidence, call 877-435-6371 or contact us online now.
