Homicide and Manslaughter

Crimes that involve taking another person's life, regardless of whether the crime is murder, manslaughter, or vehicular manslaughter, are the most serious criminal cases that out attorneys have handled.

Killing someone by committing an act that a person knows will cause death or serious bodily harm, or if a person is killed during a forcible felony, creates guilt under the first degree murder offense under Illinois law. In such instances, our attorneys have argued that a person has acted under a sudden and intense passion, or in other instances, that they had an unreasonable belief that they are acting in self-defense, which changed the offense to second degree murder. Being charged with first degree murder by the prosecution can carry a sentence of twenty years up to life. The use of a firearm adds twenty-five years to the minimum sentence, with the requirement that every day of the sentence be served. A conviction for second degree murder is still a class one felony, with this sentencing range of four to fifteen years, and time off for good behavior.

We handle a wide array of homicide cases: manslaughter, voluntary manslaughter, drunk driving murder, involuntary manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, first degree murder, and second degree murder. Of course our attorneys will seek a not guilty verdict whenever it is possible. In some cases, however, the best option is simply to make second degree conviction the goal. We can help advise you so that you will know what strategy best fits the situation of you or your loved one.