If you have been arrested and charged with murder, you need to know that everything is at stake, including your own life. In Virginia, murder is the most serious charge any person can face, and a guilty conviction could result in life imprisonment or even the death penalty. At Randall, Page & Bruch, P.C., our team is standing by to help when you need a Virginia criminal attorney by your side. We have the resources and experience necessary to handle every aspect of your case and work to ensure that you are treated fairly throughout the criminal trial process. We work tirelessly to help those charged with crimes throughout the Courtland, Suffolk, Emporia, and Lawrenceville areas.
When we turn to Section § 18.2-31 of the Virginia code, we could see the capital murder is defined in extensive detail. Broadly defined, capital murder involves the willful, deliberate, and premeditated taking of another person’s life. There are a variety of situations described in the law under which murder would be considered a “capital murder” that warrants the harshest penalties. This can include murder that occurs in the following scenarios:
Upon conviction of a capital murder charge, a person could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Both first- and second-degree murder are outlined in Section § 18.2-32 of the Virginia code. There, we can see that, if not capital murder, then the murder of another individual will be classified as first- or second-degree murder.
First-degree murder is defined as a willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder that can be committed in the following situations:
First-degree murder can also occur along with sexual offenses, robberies, arson, abduction, or during an attempt of any of those. This crime is punishable by 20 years to life in prison.
Second-degree murder is any other murder that is not considered capital murder or first-degree murder. A conviction of second-degree murder can result in five years to 40 years in prison.
If you or somebody you love has been charged with murder in Virginia, the time to act is now. At Randall, Page & Bruch, P.C., our team will be ready to put the full resources of our office to work on your behalf to ensure that you are treated fairly. We have extensive experience representing clients in these cases. We can conduct a complete investigation into the incident and represent you both in and outside of the courtroom. When you need a Virginia homicide defense attorney throughout the Courtland, Suffolk, Emporia, or Lawrenceville areas, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling 757-742-6115.
