Murder Defense

Chicago Murder Defense AttorneyThis is the most serious offense in Illinois.  The base range of sentencing is 20 to 60 years of which 100% of the sentence must be served.  If certain aggravating factors are present the sentence can be up to 100 years.  If other factors are present the sentence can be natural life.  If a gun was used to kill a person then the range is 45 to 85 years.

A Murder Defense Attorney Can Help

The best defense to a charge of murder or attempted murder is to prove self-defense.  A person is allowed to use deadly force if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to him or herself or another, or the commission of a forcible felony.  In addition, a person can use deadly force to protect his or her home if entry into the home is made or attempted in a violent manner and the force is necessary to prevent assault upon persons in the dwelling.

In proving self-defense, it is important to establish that the decedent was the aggressor.  This can be accomplished by finding eyewitnesses and by investigating the decedent’s criminal history.  Prior acts of violent behavior and crimes can be introduced at trial to prove that the decedent was the aggressor.

Some cases involve more than one defendant, in those cases the best defense is to prove that my client is not accountable for what his co-defendants did.  This defense relies on having my investigator interview potential witnesses along with looking at DNA and fingerprint evidence to prove my defense.

Each case and each defense is unique.  No case has the exact same defense as any prior case.  Levinsohn & Associates fight these cases based on the circumstances presented. If you or a loved one have been accused of murder in Chicago, contact us immediately.