
Expert Homicide, Murder, and Manslaughter Defense Lawyers in Kansas City - Protecting Your Rights and Freedom
Types of Defense Strategies Used in Murder Cases.
Murder, also known as homicide, is defined as the unlawful killing of another individual. In order to be found guilty of murder, the prosecution must prove that the defendant acted with a required mental state. In first-degree murder, for example, a prosecutor must prove that the defendant premeditated the act and intentionally killed the victim.
Many defenses to homicide are formulated around the lack of the required mental state to commit the violent crime. The defenses a criminal defense attorney uses depends on the specific facts of the case in question.
The following are the most common types of defense strategies used in murder cases:
Mistaken Identity
Self-Defense
Accident
Killings committed by mistake or accident in the course of lawful activities are not considered acts of murder. However, such killings may lead to manslaughter charges.
Exercise of Duty
Killings by police officers qualify as justified homicides if an officer kills another person in the exercise of duty and without an unlawful intent.