Homicide occurs when a person intentionally or unintentionally kills another person. The most common weapons used in homicide cases include handguns, firearms, blunt objects, poison, explosives, fire, and narcotics; hands and fists, rifles, and shotguns. This data is taken from a study published on martindale.com.

Ohio is one of the top 10 states with the highest percentage of homicide cases using firearms.

If convicted of a homicide, you could face a prison sentence of 15 years to life and significant fines. Protect your freedom and contact our violent crimes defense law firm today.

What Are the Essential Elements of Homicide Cases?

There are five essential elements of a criminal homicide case: intent to kill, intention to cause serious injury, extreme recklessness, attempted commission of a felony, and resistance to arrest.

In homicide cases, there are three types of criminal cases, though Ohio only recognizes the first two—aggravated murder and murder. First-degree (or aggravated murder) is considered an intentional and the most aggressive form of murder.

Second-degree murder is killing another person or people while committing other felonies, such as battery, assault, or robbery, and similar aggravating circumstances.

The prosecution will fight to have you convicted. We will offer a neutral perspective throughout your case through to resolution. Contact our criminal defense team to get a non-biased outlook.

In Ohio, What are the Penalties for Homicide?

A first-degree murder or homicide must include aggravating circumstances to qualify for capital punishment. Some examples of this include murdering a police officer, killing a woman and terminating a pregnancy, murdering another person in prison, or killing a child under 13 years old.

The penalty for aggravated murder ranges from capital punishment to life in prison. A felony murder, or second-degree murder, is a category of murder that includes killing another person or people while committing other felonies, including kidnapping, rape, arson, robbery, or burglary.

The punishment could include capital punishment and life imprisonment without parole if convicted.

Aggravated murder or felony murder charges will put you away for life if you’re found guilty. See how our criminal defense lawyers can help, and contact us today.

Can Homicide Be Accidental?

Death due to illness or disease is considered death by natural causes. Death caused by human intent, whether “accidental” or intentional, is considered a homicide. Assisted suicide is an example; accidental death can be considered homicide if malice is involved.

There are alternative circumstances, such as killing another person as part of self-defense, to prevent a severe felony from occurring, or aiding a representative of the law. These are legally justifiable acts.

Committing homicide, to any degree, is a severe offense and will cost you your freedom without legal representation. Contact our criminal defense attorneys at 513-548-5544 to discuss strategies for your case.