Murder/Homicide Attorney in Knoxville & Farragut, Tennessee
According to statistics from the Crime in Tennessee report by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), there were 502,706 total reported Group A (most serious) offenses in 2021, including murder. In the state of Tennessee, murder – the unlawful killing of another person – is a serious crime that is often punished severely.
Unfortunately, a defendant convicted of murder or criminal homicide could face devastating penalties, including hefty fines, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a permanent criminal record, and other social consequences. With your future and every aspect of your life on the line, it is natural to feel terrified.
If you've been arrested and charged with murder, you need to possess a highly-skilled and bold Tennessee criminal defense attorney immediately to help strategize your best defense. At the Law Office of Joshua S. Reed, we provide clear legal direction and reliable representation to clients in their murder cases.
In addition, our trusted team can investigate the details of your case and outline an effective defense to help fight your accusations. Our team can fight to defend your legal rights and make sure those allegations don't ruin your life. The Law Office of Joshua S. Reed proudly represents clients across Knoxville and Farragut, Tennessee.
Facing murder charges can be frightening. Don't face them alone.
Understanding Homicide
Criminal homicide - also referred to as murder - can be described as the deliberate and unlawful killing of another person. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the kill, criminal homicide is further classified into the following in the state of Tennessee:
First-Degree Murder
Under Tennessee law – Tennessee Code Section 39-13-202 – first-degree murder involves any of the following:
A premeditated and intentional killing of another person
Killing another person in the process of committing first-degree murder, rape, an act of terrorism, burglary, arson, robbery, kidnapping, theft, aggravated rape, or aggravated child neglect
Killing another person by discharging, placing, or throwing a bomb or destructive device unlawfully
Second-Degree Murder
Under Tennessee Code Section 39-13-210, second-degree murder involves:
Killing another person knowingly
Killing another person from unlawful drug distribution
Killing another person from the unlawful distribution, dispensation, or delivery of fentanyl or carfentanil
Voluntary Manslaughter
According to Tennessee Code Section 39-13-211, voluntary manslaughter can be described as the intentional or knowing killing of another person in a state of passion caused by emotional distraught or provocation, which may cause a reasonable person to act irrationally.
Criminally Negligent Homicide
In Tennessee, criminally negligent homicide involves any negligent conduct or act that causes another person's death.
Vehicular Homicide
Under Tennessee law, vehicular homicide is a crime that occurs when a person is recklessly killed from being hit by an automobile, motor vehicle, motorboat, or airplane. This may be due to the driver's intoxication, drag racing, or conduct that causes a risk of serious bodily injury or death.
Reckless Homicide
According to Tennessee Code Section 39-13-215, reckless homicide involves the reckless killing of another person.
If you or someone close to you has recently been arrested or indicted for criminal homicide or murder, you need to reach out to a highly-skilled criminal defense attorney straight away. Your legal counsel can enlighten you about the nature and severity of your allegations and explore your possible defenses to help fight your charges.
Possible Penalties
In the state of Tennessee, the criminal justice system recognizes different degrees of culpability when sentencing a defendant charged with murder or homicide. Typically, the potential penalty would correspond with the degree of murder charges the defendant was convicted for.
For example, a defendant facing first-degree murder charges may be punished by the death penalty or life imprisonment with or without the possibility of parole. On the other hand, if the defendant is facing second-degree murder charges, they may be punished with several years or decades in prison with eligibility for parole.
Generally, manslaughter, negligent homicide, or vehicular homicide will be punished by massive fines and a number of years imprisonment. A knowledgeable Tennessee murder defense attorney can investigate every surrounding detail of your case and help strategize the best defenses.
Possible Defenses
When facing murder charges in Tennessee, your attorney may fight your charges using any of these legal defenses:
Accident or misfortune
Committed in an attempt to uphold the law
Mistaken identity
Resisting an attempt to commit a felony or murder any person
Self-defense
Defense of property, habitation, or person
Heat of passion
Defense of a person in possible harm or danger
Failure to prove the elements beyond reasonable doubt
A strategic lawyer can identify the best defenses to help fight your charges in an attempt to achieve the most favorable outcome for your case.
Work With a Highly-Skilled Criminal Defense Attorney
Defending your murder accusations without experienced representation could easily expose you to the possibility of getting convicted and suffering the maximum penalties. Unfortunately, a criminal conviction could jeopardize your liberty, personal reputation, career, education, quality of life, and future opportunities. Therefore, when charged with murder, speaking with a criminal defense attorney is essential for clear guidance and to help build your best defenses.
At the Law Office of Joshua S. Reed, we have the resources and comprehensive skills to defend and represent clients who have been wrongfully accused of murder or criminal homicide. Our loyal team will work to understand your specific issues and strategize an effective defense in search of the best possible outcome for your individual situation. Also, we will help you navigate the Tennessee criminal justice system and ensure you get fair treatment in every phase of the legal process.
Murder/Homicide Attorney Serving Knoxville & Farragut, Tennessee
Facing murder charges can be frightening. Don't face them alone. Contact the Law Office of Joshua S. Reed today to schedule a simple case evaluation. Our skilled legal team has the dependable representation you need in your murder case. We're proud to serve clients across Knoxville and Farragut, Tennessee, as well as throughout surrounding counties, including Clinton, Oak Ridge, Blount, Anderson, Union, and Maryville.