Attempted Murder
Attempted Murder
Getting Charged with Attempted Murder in Mississippi
Attempted murder is just that, an attempt to murder somebody. This charge is reserved for people who unsuccessfully try to kill another person. For whatever reason, the murder didn’t happen, and even though you didn’t actually take someone’s life, you’ve still committed a very serious crime. Whether you changed your mind at the last minute, or your plans were thwarted, you need to have experienced and skilled representation to make sure your rights are being protected in the criminal justice system.
Elements of an Attempted Murder Charge
- Did you take some action towards the taking of another human’s life?
- Was that action intended to kill another person?
Criminal Action
The criminal action is one half of an attempted murder charge. This involves some type of action that had to do with trying to take the life of another person. This could include breaking into the victim’s home, luring the victim to the potential murder scene or stalking the victim prior to the attempt on that person’s life. Since the circumstances can vary from case to case, it’s absolutely critical to go over the details of your crime with an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Examples of Action involved with Attempted Murder Charges
- Breaking in
- Constructing, buying or gathering items to use in the murder
- Soliciting somebody else to do the murder
- Convincing somebody else to be involved, either knowingly or unknowingly
- Luring the victim
- Stalking the victim
- Tracking the victim
- Ambushing the victim
Criminal Intent
Intent to kill is the other half of an attempted murder charge. The court will have to prove that you took an action and had criminal intent in order to make the charge stick. There are a few exceptions to the rule involving intent, which can involve how a deadly weapon is used or other certain circumstances, but in most cases, this is an absolutely essential part of a conviction. The prosecution may try to show that you had intent to act on your plan and intent to kill the victim. They could search your computer browser history and find out if you had researched poisons or how to make a bomb. There are so many different ways to show the jury that you may have had intent.
What if I Changed my Mind?
What happens if you changed your mind and decided not to go through with the murder? This is great news, and you need to tell your defense team as soon as possible. The defense needs to be able to show the jury or the prosecutor that you changed your mind. This is different than when outside circumstances thwart your plans. This type of defense, also known as renunciation or withdrawal, is typically used when you had both intent and criminal action, but had a change of heart at the last minute.
Potential Sentences
If convicted of attempted murder, you could be imprisoned for life. If the jury cannot agree on a life sentence for someone convicted of attempted murder, the court then must sentence the person for at least twenty years in prison.
The Best Defense
If you or a loved one has been charged with attempted murder in Jackson or the surrounding areas, you need the best defense available. This means you need to skip the public defender’s office. Public defenders are great legal professionals, but they just don’t have the time or resources to dedicate to you individually. They’re overburdened with too many cases and they have meager funds and budgets to dedicate to their clients’ freedom. Choosing a lawyer with proven experience needs to be your top priority after an arrest. Whether your facing a potential life sentence or a decade behind bars, contact the proven defense team at Coxwell & Associates, PLLC at (601) 265-7766 for a case consultation today.
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