There are few charges with as much hung weight and consequence in criminal law as homicide. Either murder or manslaughter, an accusation of taking another life opens you up to extreme punishments rising up to the possibility of life in prison and/or death in some states. But a deeper legal understanding is emerging that highlights the role of mental health in many homicide cases. A Los Angeles Homicide Defense Attorney is trained on data until October 2023 to follow these waters knowledgably, especially when mental illness or mental health issues are rightly a concern.
And mental health problems can severely affect a person’s capacity to appreciate the consequences of their own actions, or to form the intent needed to meet the threshold for murder. For instance, if the defense is built on an argument concerning mental health, a Murder Defense Lawyer may work to have the charges lessened or the penalties lessened if the defendant is found guilty. Let’s dig into how mental health comes into play in homicide charges, and how legal defense teams in Los Angeles navigate these sensitive and difficult cases.
The legal strategy for homicide cases often turns on the question of whether the suspect was of sound mind to conduct the deed they are being accused of. Often, defendants with extreme mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or profound depression, do not fully grasp the consequences of their actions. These conditions may impair judgment, causing a person to exhibit behavior with no intent needed to prove the crime of murder.
The law acknowledges this difference with defenses based on insanity or diminished capacity. An insanity defense may contend, for example, that the defendant’s mental illness prevented them from possessing the specific intent to commit murder. In doing so, they might have settled on a defendant who’s not guilty by reason of insanity, or who’s guilty of lesser charges, such as manslaughter, rather than first-degree murder.
A Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer for homicide will often try to bring in expert testimony to show that the defendant’s mental illness was a significant factor in their actions. Even more so when the person on trial is fighting for their life understanding mental illness and how it intersects with the legal concept of intent is critical to any defense strategy.
California law permits defendants to plead diminished capacity, meaning the defendant did commit the act but his or her mental state at the time did not support the intent required to be found guilty. Diminished capacity does not exonerate the individual but mitigates the crime from murder to manslaughter. If the defendant did not plan these actions ahead of time, it can be an indispensable weapon to fight a murder charge for a Criminal Lawyer LA.
In cases involving mental illness, defenses include that the defendant could not distinguish right from wrong, or that he was in the throes of a severe emotional disturbance. The legal defense in such scenarios may involve bringing proof of the state of mind of a defendant at the time of committing the crime.
For example, a Best Criminal Attorney Los Angeles could make the case that an accused person who suffers from PTSD due to military service or abuse acted based on nothing more than situational panic or distress at the time of the homicide. When a person suffers from PTSD, they can become hyper-vigilant, interpreting events and surroundings in a way that can result in violent behavior.
A veteran suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, for example, may genuinely think his life is in danger and kill in what he believes to be self-defense. In such an instance, the defense would be able to maintain that the defendant’s mental health problems greatly impaired their ability to understand the consequences of their actions.
Another possible intersection between mental health and homicide charges can happen when someone commits a violent act while under the influence of drugs or alcohol that is capable of triggering temporary psychosis. Another argument used by a DUI Defense Attorney could be that intoxication led to a temporary loss of control on part of the defendant, resulting in the crime being committed. While this is not always exculpatory, it can affect sentencing or what type of charges are brought against the defendant.
In certain situations, a DUI Arrest Lawyer could claim the intoxication was so strong that the defendant was incapable of planning, and therefore a charge of murder could plea down to a lesser charge.
Los Angeles homicide defense lawyers have to be able to knowledgeably confer with a client accused of murder with a mental health issue. An Attorney in a Homicide Defense may engage psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals to evaluate the defendant’s mental state at the time of the crime. These experts may testify about the effect of a diagnosed mental health condition on the defendant’s behavior.
The court will assess if the defendant had any mental capacity to appreciate the nature of their actions or the ability to formulate any criminal intent. In extreme mental health disorders, this might leave a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict or charge reduction.
Even if a defendant is found guilty of a homicide charge, mental health questions can also affect sentencing. A Federal Criminal Defense Attorney for Homicide probably will show proof the defendant suffers mental ailment in the sentencing phase and push to mitigate penalties citing that individual’s illness. Perhaps California courts will show some leniency by offering mental health treatment instead of a long prison sentence.
Homicide cases are notoriously complicated, especially in cases involving mental health concerns, so anyone facing such charges should contact legal help as soon as possible. Your Criminal Lawyer LA, who has experience with mental health defenses will immediately be able to start investigating the circumstances of the crime and working with other mental health experts to build a solid defense strategy.
In some circumstance, with early intervention it makes a world on whether the case ends up different especially when it comes to protection of the defendant on retention of the right to good mental health and ensuring they get the treatment they need.
At Alimouri Law, we know from defending homicide charges, especially when it comes to mental health, how challenging the situation can be. If you are facing murder or manslaughter charges in Los Angeles or any one you know, look no further than our elite Criminal Defense Lawyer Los Angeles team will be your fierce advocate in this difficult time. So we partner with mental health professionals to make sure you case takes all relevant factors into account.
Don’t go through these complicated legal waters by yourself Reach out today for a confidential consultation. We can educate you about your legal options and advocate for the best possible outcome. We’ll be with you every step of the way whether you require a Homicide Defense Attorney or help combatting Murder Charges. Contact us today, and we will help you defend yourself