Atlanta Murder Defenses Attorneys

If you have been charged with murder in the State of Georgia, these are some of the most serious criminal charges you can face, and it is critical that you have strong representation from an Atlanta murder defense attorney.

For more than 30 years, the law firm of Garland, Samuel & Loeb has provided aggressive defense representation to clients throughout Georgia. Our criminal defense lawyers understand the specialized issues involved in the preparation and defense of a homicide charge and have the courtroom experience and skill to stand up against the State.

When the State seeks the death penalty and your life is on the line, our defense team at Garland, Samuel & Loeb has the skill and courage to stand between you and the State. We will leave no stone unturned to defend and protect your life. Use the contact form to the right to reach out for your free consultation.

Would you like to know more about murder charges in Georgia and how a criminal defense attorney can help you? While the information provided below is not legal advice, it can help you understand what you’ll face in criminal cases like these.

How Do You Fight Murder Charges?

To fight murder charges, you need to understand the criminal justice system process at every stage. A lawyer can help you understand what to do first. For example, when you are first charged, it is vital that you exercise your right to remain silent.

You have a right, under the constitution, to remain silent until speaking to your attorney. When you exercise this right, your lawyer can provide you with advice and guidance on what questions to answer before you speak to law enforcement.

You may think that law enforcement is on your side if you are innocent, but police officers and prosecutors are highly motivated to obtain a conviction. Many people have been falsely convicted over confused or confusing statements they made while answering police questions.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, several defenses may be available, including offering proof that someone else committed the crime or the killing was done in self-defense, that the murder was unintentional, or that the State’s evidence is insufficient to convict, or in the case of felony murder that the death was not caused by the commission of another crime.

Additionally, there may be mitigating circumstances such that the facts only support a lesser charge. Our attorneys have the skill to bring these defenses to life in the courtroom, whether through withering cross-examination of a Government witness or a compelling closing argument demonstrating the deficiencies in the State’s proof.

Extensive experience and a strong attorney-client relationship are essential to facing charges of this nature. That’s exactly what you can expect when you hire Garland, Samuel, & Loeb

How Garland, Samuel, & Loeb Handles Murder Charges

Murder charges are one of our firm’s core practice areas. Our firm has successfully handled a number of high-profile murder cases, including the defense of future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis and the defense of Jim Williams, whose case was the subject of the book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”

With every case we take, we closely scrutinize every piece of evidence the prosecution intends to use against you. Armed with a thorough understanding of the case, our attorneys drive the case toward the best possible outcome, whether convincing the State to dismiss or reduce the charges against you or crafting a successful defense at trial.

We are prepared to defend you against all types of murder charges, and manslaughter charges that may result from violent crimes like domestic violence, DUIs, and other sources including:

Felony murder
Malice murder
Voluntary manslaughter
Involuntary manslaughter
Vehicular homicide

Contact Our Team of Murder Defense Lawyers

As Atlanta’s murder charge firm, we have years of experience handling highly complex defense cases. Let the Atlanta criminal defense attorneys at our law office fight for you.

If you’re ready to start working on your defense strategy, request a free consultation to meet with one of our super lawyers. We’ll answer your questions, and determine if our firm can offer you the legal representation your situation needs. Get started by leaving your information on our murder charge contact form.

Contact our office today to discuss your murder case. We are available during regular business hours and by appointment at other times.

FAQs About Murder Charges in Georgia

Both Malice Murder and Felony Murder have the same mandatory minimum sentence which is Life with the Possibility of Parole. A person with a life sentence cannot be considered for parole until after they have served 30 years of their sentence.

We do not really have degrees of murder in Georgia. We have Malice Murder and Felony Murder. There is a charge called "Second Degree Murder" but it applies only in instances where someone commits the offense of cruelty to children in the second degree and causes the death of another person, irrespective of malice.

Malice murder means an intentional killing of another human being that is done with "malice aforethought." "Malice" means an unlawful intent to kill without justification, excuse, or mitigation. It does not necessarily mean ill will or hatred.

Attempted murder happens when someone intends to commit murder and performs any act which constitutes a substantial step towards the commission of that murder. For example, buying a gun with the intent to murder someone with that gun would be attempted murder.

One common defense in murder cases is self-defense. A variation on this is defense of others or defense of property. Georgia law allows someone to use deadly force to defend themselves, others, or their property when they believe the attacker is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to them. Or if you believe someone is entering your house to commit a forcible felony.

In Georgia, Malice Murder and Felony Murder are both eligible to be punished by death, so they are both capital offenses. Second Degree Murder can be punished by 10 to 30 years.

"Homicide" is not a legal term in Georgia. In Georgia, we use the term murder to mean an intentional killing of another human being. We also have felony murder, which is occurs when someone commits a felony and in the process of committing that felony causes the death of another person, even if unintentional. "Homicide" is a term that is used by medical examiners and it means a death that occurs not by accident or natural causes.

In Georgia, someone cannot be prosecuted for murder if they were lawfully acting in self-defense, defense of others, or defense of property. This is a decision that the judge can make prior to trial

Determining the best defense tactic for your case will depend heavily on the circumstances of your case. You need an experienced lawyer to analyze the circumstances of your case to look for legal defenses (such as self-defense or defense of others) or factual defenses (like you did not do what the prosecution accuses you of doing).

The standard of proof for every crime is the same: the prosecution must prove someone's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The elements of Voluntary Manslaughter that the prosecution must prove are that someone caused the death of another but acted solely as the result of a sudden, violent, and irresistible passion resulting from serious provocation sufficient to excite such passion in a reasonable person (without any kind of "cooling off" period.)

Manslaughter is a serious crime, but it is separate from murder. Georgia recognizes voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

Voluntary manslaughter occurs when a person intentionally kills another person while influenced by sudden and violent passions. There will need to be significant evidence that the passion was provoked by something beyond a typical person’s ability to deal with responsibly. If you are found guilty, you can face up to 20 years in prison.

Involuntary manslaughter occurs when a person kills another person unintentionally. In order to be charged with manslaughter rather than a less serious charge, there must be evidence that your behavior was illegal or reckless at the time.

Georgia has both Voluntary Manslaughter and Involuntary Manslaughter. Involuntary Manslaughter is punishable by a sentence of 1-10 years. Voluntary Manslaughter is punishable by a sentence of 1-20 years.

How Can We Help You?

When you hire the law firm of Garland, Samuel & Loeb, you can rely on us to do everything in our power to reach the best possible outcome in your case. Whether you have suffered a serious injury in an accident or are facing criminal charges, our attorneys will fight to see that your rights are protected from the start.