Murder Charges in Las Vegas, Nevada

Understanding murder charges

Capital murder cases in Las Vegas are taken extremely seriously, and you need to hire an outstanding criminal defense attorney to build the best possible defense to reduce your charges.

In Nevada murder is defined as "the unlawful killing of a human being with malice."

There are different types of murder charges:

1. First degree murder (premeditative murder)
2. Second degree murder (not premeditative murder)
3. Voluntary manslaughter
4. Involuntary manslaughter

Each has its penalties and definitions, and, depending on the facts of your case, there could be additional enhancement charges.

Examples could be:

• Deadly weapons were used.
• The victim was sixty years old or older.
• It was a planned murder.

If you are under investigation or have been arrested for any murder or homicide, contact a criminal defense attorney at Heshmati & Associates to discuss the specifics of your murder charges. The case review is always complimentary, and it comes with no obligation. Call today at 702-432-1000.

First-degree murder

The first-degree murder in Nevada is defined as a deliberate and premeditative killing. It could involve sexual assault, kidnapping, arson, robbery, burglary, home invasion, or child abuse, amongst many other things. (NRS 200.030)

The first-degree murder is a capital offense, which is a Category A Felony and is punishable by the term of life in prison, or, potentially, the death penalty.

There could be many aggravating and mitigating factors in any first-degree murder trial.

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First-degree murder:
Aggravating factors

Examples of aggravating factors would be:

• The defendant knew that a life would be taken.
• The defendant had one or more previous murder convictions.
• The victim was a judge, prosecutor, witness or a juror killed.
• The murder was committed to a person less than 14 years of age.
• The killing involved bombs or explosive materials.
• The murder was committed with the intent to commit, cause, aid or conceal the act of terrorism.

First-degree murder:
Mitigating factors

In addition, the murder of the first degree may be mitigated by any of the following circumstances:

• The defendant has no significant history or prior criminal activity.
• The murder was committed while the defendant was under the influence of drugs/alcohol or extreme mental/emotional disturbance.
• The victim was a participant in the defendant's criminal conduct or consented to the act of murder.
• The defendant was an accomplice to the murder committed by another person and the defendant's participation in the crime was relatively minor.
• The defendant acted under duress.

Second-degree murder

The second-degree murder in Nevada is defined as murder without premeditation, deliberation or any planning to do so in advance. (NRS 200.030)

Voluntary manslaughter

Voluntary manslaughter can be defined as the unlawful killing of a human being, without malice and any deliberation. For example, the defendant acted in the heat of passion or somebody provoked the defendant.

Involuntary manslaughter

Involuntary manslaughter is the killing of a human being, without the intention to kill the person. For example, a car accident or any unintentional accident when the person was killed could be considered involuntary manslaughter.

Murder charges and immigration consequences

If you are a non-citizen who has been charged with murder in Nevada, you will be facing deportation after you serve your sentence.

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Penalties for murder charges

Category A Felony	Penalties
1st Degree Murder	Life in Nevada state prison without the possibility of parole; Life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years; 50 years in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years; Death;
2st Degree Murder	Life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years; 25 years in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years;

Defenses for murder charges

Some of defenses that may be available in your case are the following:

• Insufficient evidence
• Self-defense
• Contaminated or mishandled evidence
• Mental illness

Every case is unique. If you need help or have any questions regarding the homicide charges, call Heshmati & Associates at 702-432-1000.

We can help

The criminal defense attorney will analyze all the aspects of your murder case, gather time-sensitive evidence, testimonies, documents, and build a solid defense to fight these severe charges.

Heshmati & Associates:
Criminal Defense Attorneys

If you have been charged with the crime of murder, you should retain a knowledgeable and aggressive attorney to protect your rights.

Call the Law Office of Heshmati & Associates at 702-432-1000 today to schedule an appointment, so that we can help.

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