IF You Are Accused Of Murder,

DO NOT Speak To The Police,

REMAIN SILENT Until We Meet

In the event that you or a family member is confronted with murder charges, it is imperative that you refrain from speaking to law enforcement until one of our skilled criminal defense attorneys is present. Your future may hinge on this decision. The consequences of murder charges are severe, potentially involving the death penalty or life imprisonment. Law enforcement may resort to deceptive tactics to elicit a confession or to manipulate you into making statements that could harm your defense. Our team of criminal law experts has a proven track record of successfully defending clients against murder allegations and is committed to pursuing the most advantageous resolution for your situation. Reach out to our office today.

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Indiana, on the other hand, has only one murder statute, unlike other states. However, Indiana does have separate manslaughter laws for "voluntary manslaughter" ("heat of passion murder") and "involuntary manslaughter" (an accidental killing). The penalties for murder in Indiana are based on the circumstances of the crime, including the age of the defendant and victim and how the victim was murdered.

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What is Murder in State of Indiana? 

     Indiana Code Section 35-42-1-1 states that a person commits Murder if a person:

1. Intentionally kills another human being

2. Kills another person while committing or attempting to commit 

   • arson,

   • burglary,

   • child molesting, 

   • consumer product tampering,

   • kidnapping,

   • rape, robbery,

   • human or sex trafficking,

   • carjacking, or narcotic or meth dealing or manufacturing (the "felony murder rule")

3. Intentionally kills a fetus that has attained viability

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Penalties of Murder in Indiana? 

Murder in Indiana can be punished in the following ways: 

1. The death penalty,

2. life imprisonment without the possibility of parole,

3. Imprisonment for a jail sentence between 45 -65 years and a fine of up to $10,000.

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Can jail time be suspended if convicted of murder? 

Although Indiana law permits the suspension of any part of a sentence in most cases, for murder, the court may only suspend the sentence that is beyond the minimum of 45 years.

 

What Defenses do people have to being charged with Murder? 
Many defenses may apply to a murder case. Some defenses, such as innocence, lead to a not guilty verdict, if believed by the court. Other defenses, including self-defense or intoxication, can be partial defenses, meaning they may only reduce the crime to manslaughter or are mitigating factors to consider at sentencing.

 

Common murder defenses include:
•    Innocence
•    Lack of intent
•    Lack of knowledge
•    Insanity
•    Intoxication
•    Self-defense