Austin Homicide Lawyer

If you are facing homicide/murder charges in Austin, you do not have to face them alone. Being accused of homicide/murder is a terrifying and overwhelming experience, and you deserve a legal trusted advocate champion who will fight for you. Whether you have been charged with murder following an incident in East Austin or criminally negligent homicide in Tarrytown, you need to hire an Austin homicide lawyer who can act as your legal champion and protect your rights.

Why Work With Attorney Andrew Rountree?

For over 11 years, attorney Andrew Rountree worked as a prosecutor before turning his attention to criminal defense. He understands that facing criminal charges of any kind, especially homicide, is scary, and he is here to offer both the emotional and legal support you need during this difficult time. While we are unable to promise an outcome when it comes to your homicide charges, we can do everything in our power to protect you from a possible conviction.

Understanding Homicide Charges in Austin

For three years in a row, Austin saw around 65 homicides every 12 months. Homicide is one of the most serious crimes you can be charged with in Austin and often results in a long prison sentence or life imprisonment if convicted. If you have been accused and charged with homicide, you should not try to handle your case by yourself. It is essential that you, instead, turn to an experienced homicide defense attorney who can effectively represent you and protect your rights and interests.

The state of Texas recognizes four different types of criminal homicide. These types include:

• Manslaughter. An individual can be convicted of manslaughter if they are found guilty of recklessly causing another individual’s death.
• Criminally negligent homicide. This charge can arise should an individual be found guilty of causing another individual’s death through a negligent act.
• Murder. An individual can be convicted of murder if they have intentionally or knowingly caused the death of another, have committed an act that is clearly dangerous to human life with the intent to cause serious bodily injury and the act kills the victim, or they have attempted to commit or have committed a felony and caused the death of another person.
• Capital murder. You can be charged with capital murder if you murder a peace officer, commit murder for hire, for payment, while imprisoned, commit murder in an intentional manner while also committing certain violent felonies, or in other qualifying circumstances.

Being charged with any form of homicide is a serious situation in Austin that demands the attention of an experienced and skilled criminal defense attorney. At Rountree Law Firm, we are here to serve you, whatever your homicide case entails.

Defense Strategies for Homicide Cases

When faced with homicide charges, it is essential to hire an attorney to defend you. The penalties for these charges are severe, including the death penalty — or capital punishment — in the most severe cases. In fact, since the death penalty was reinstated, over 2,000 inmates have been under the death penalty across the United States. Convicted individuals can also face jail time, fines, and an unemployment rate of nearly 30% upon release from prison.

With so much at stake, having an attorney to represent you is crucial. At Rountree Law Firm, we can review your case and help determine what defense strategy might be your correct option, including:

• Self-defense. In some cases, you may need to use physical force in order to protect yourself from a threat or attack. If we can prove that you were in fear for your life and acted in a reasonable manner in order to protect yourself, then the argument of self-defense could lead to a verdict of not guilty.
• Defense of others. If you acted in the defense of another from a threat of violence or attack, then this might be a justifiable reason to secure a not guilty verdict.
• Lack of intent. Intent is an integral part of any homicide charge when it comes to proving a defendant’s alleged guilt. We may be able to get your charge reduced to manslaughter if we can prove that you did not intend to cause harm during the time of the crime.
• Insanity. Insanity can work as a viable defense in certain cases. Pleading insanity means that we must be able to prove you did not know the difference between right and wrong when the homicide took place.
• Mistaken identity. In certain homicide cases, a witness may mistakenly point you out as the individual who committed the crime. For this defense to work, we need to present a solid alibi showing that you were somewhere else at the time of the homicide. DNA evidence, if it exists, can also be helpful in this defense strategy.
• Rights violation. In certain cases, a law enforcement officer might very well violate your constitutional rights. For example, this can happen if evidence is obtained through any kind of unlawful search or seizure. In this situation, the team at Rountree Law Firm may be able to have certain forms of evidence suppressed.

How an Attorney Can Support You in a Homicide Case in Texas

Facing homicide charges is frightening, but it doesn’t need to mean that all hope is lost. When you hire a criminal defense attorney to help you in a homicide case, they are there to handle all legal matters and act to protect your rights following your initial arrest. They can also:

• Argue for bail so that you can spend the time between arrest and trial at home.
• Help you understand how your behavior matters throughout the process.
• Obtain evidence to establish reasonable doubt.
• Fight for you and argue your case before a judge and jury.

Experienced Legal Help You Can Trust

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Hire a Homicide Lawyer Serving Austin Residents Today

Now is not the time to spiral. Instead, you need to call attorney Andrew Rountree. When you hire a homicide lawyer from Rountree Law Firm, you can gain confidence in the fact that you have the right legal team in your corner, fighting for your freedoms. When you are accused of homicide in Austin, your very future is on the line. At Rountree Law Firm, we understand this, which is why we are here to help. Call 512-262-8080 to schedule your initial consultation today.