San Antonio Homicide Attorney Provides Staunch Representation

Skilled lawyer provides murder and manslaughter defense throughout Texas

Homicide — causing the death of another human being — is a felony that is punishable by extensive prison time. Murder, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide fall into this category of crime. If you are accused of any level of homicide offense, you need a skilled and effective criminal defense attorney. At Kevin L. Collins, P.C., I put my decades of experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney to work for defendants in homicide cases throughout Texas.

Skilled counsel provides effective representation to murder suspects

A prosecutor seeking a murder conviction must prove the defendant caused the death of another person in one of three ways:

• Intentionally and knowingly
• By committing an act that was clearly dangerous to human life with intent to cause a serious injury
• By committing an act that was clearly dangerous to human life while committing or attempting to commit a felony

The potential punishment for murder depends on the circumstances. If the defendant commits ordinary murder in the heat of passion, the crime is punishable by two to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 or both.

The most serious degree of murder, capital murder, occurs when:

• The victim is a peace officer or fireman lawfully performing his or her duties
• The defendant intentionally kills someone while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, obstruction, retaliation or terroristic threat
• The defendant pays or is paid for the commission of the murder
• The defendant is in, or attempting to escape from, jail
• The defendant murders more than one person
• The defendant murders a child younger than six
• The murder is in retaliation for the service of a judge

A person convicted of capital murder may be punished by the death penalty. Otherwise, murder is punishable by five to 99 years in state prison, a fine of up to $10,000 or both. If the defendant committed capital murder while insane, mentally disabled or younger than 17 years old, he will be spared the death penalty.

If you are accused of murder, you need a highly competent criminal defense attorney, starting from the moment the police arrest you. I will seek to have improperly obtained information excluded from evidence. I will raise and pursue all available defenses to murder, such as lack of intent or knowledge, insanity, intoxication or self-defense. If advantageous, I will try to plea bargain to a lesser charge or sentence.

Adept attorney defends against manslaughter charges

Manslaughter is recklessly causing the death of another person, without intent to cause death or serious injury or to commit a felony. For instance, driving while intoxicated is considered a reckless act, so killing someone while doing so may be charged as manslaughter. The penalty is two to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 or both. If you are accused of manslaughter, I will challenge the evidence against you and may be able to assert one or more of several potential defenses, including extenuating circumstances that mitigate against a finding of recklessness. In the alternative, I may be able to work out a plea bargain to reduce the charge and the penalty.

Contact a San Antonio homicide attorney for more information

If you are charged with homicide in any degree, you need to assert an immediate and forceful defense. Reach out to Kevin L. Collins, P.C. in San Antonio, Texas, either by contacting me online or by calling me at 210-598-8629.