Benton Homicide Defense Lawyer

Trusted Homicide Defense Attorney in Benton, LA

Homicide Defense Lawyer for Benton Cases

Homicide cases are built early, and the first days decide how strong your defense may be. You need to know what you are facing, what to say, and what to keep to yourself before anyone asks you another question.

If you need a Benton homicide defense lawyer, we represent Benton and Bossier Parish clients from our Minden office. We step in early, deal with investigators, and build a defense case while the State builds its case.

Reach out and tell us about your situation. We can advise you of your legal rights and next steps.

Homicide Charges We Defend for Benton and Bossier Parish Clients

Louisiana has five homicide charges, each with different elements the State must prove and potential sentences. These crimes include:

• First degree murder: an intentional killing in certain situations, and the only homicide charge that can carry the death penalty.
• Second degree murder: a killing with intent to kill or cause great bodily harm, or a death during a serious felony like armed robbery.
• Manslaughter: a killing that would be murder except that it happened in sudden passion. Sudden passion means provocation strong enough to make an average person lose self-control. Manslaughter can also be a killing, without intent to cause death or great bodily harm, that happens during certain other crimes.
• Negligent homicide: a death caused by criminal carelessness, with no intent.
• Vehicular homicide: a death caused by an impaired driver.

We check which charge the evidence supports, and we press for a lower one if the State aims too high.

An Example: What a Second Degree Murder Conviction Can Cost You

A second degree murder conviction in Louisiana carries life in prison at hard labor. For adults, there is no parole, no probation, and no suspended sentence (La. R.S. 14:30.1). If the person was under 18 when the crime happened, the law may let them ask for parole after 25 years. That leaves no middle ground at sentencing, so everything that can change the outcome happens before the verdict.

Some killings are not crimes. A homicide can be justified in some cases. One example is when a person reasonably believes they face imminent danger of death or great bodily harm, and the killing is needed to stop it. The law also covers other cases, such as stopping a violent felony or protecting a home, business, or car from a break-in. The break-in rule does not apply if the person was dealing drugs at the time. In many cases, a person who is not breaking the law and is somewhere they have a right to be has no duty to retreat (La. R.S. 14:20).

It can be overwhelming to keep your family, home, and job steady while you sort this out. Our experienced criminal defense lawyers look at the evidence in the first few days and protect that evidence for use during plea bargaining or in court.

What We Do in the First Days of a Benton Homicide Case

Every case differs, but the early work follows a pattern. We may:

1. Tell you what to stop doing, including talking to police, family, and friends, and posting online. We also take over contact with investigators.
2. Secure evidence that can disappear, such as video, phone records, and witness names.
3. Treat what the district attorney hands over as a starting point and run our own investigation.
4. Weigh self-defense, lack of intent, and lesser charges like manslaughter against what the evidence shows.
5. Prepare the case for trial while keeping plea talks open, so you decide with the full picture.

Questions About a Homicide Case in Benton and Bossier Parish

Do I need a homicide lawyer before I talk to police?

Yes. Investigators keep building their case while you wait, and anything you say can be used against you in court. Once we are on your case, we handle their questions.

Where is the clerk of court for a Benton case?

The Bossier Parish Clerk of Court is on the third floor of the courthouse at 204 Burt Boulevard in Benton. Filings, records, and court dates for your case run through that office, and we track them for you.

Can you take my case if your office is in Minden?

Yes. Minden and Benton sit in the same judicial district, and we appear at the Bossier Parish Courthouse for your case. You can meet us at our Minden office or talk with us by phone first.

Can a murder charge be reduced to manslaughter?

Sometimes. Manslaughter fits a killing done in sudden passion after strong provocation. It can also fit a killing, without intent to cause death or great bodily harm, that happens during certain other crimes. We look for evidence that supports a lesser charge from the start.

Will my homicide case go to trial?

Some cases end in a plea or a dismissal, and others go to a jury. We prepare for trial from day one and keep plea talks open, so the choice stays with you.

What should my family avoid saying while I am in jail?

Calls from jail are usually recorded, so keep them about family and not the case. Ask your family to send anything they hear about the case to us instead.

How much does a homicide defense lawyer cost?

It depends. We can explain the fee for your case in our first conversation, and we will go over all of the costs with you before you decide anything.

Fighting for You When You Need It the Most

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Talk to a Benton Homicide Defense Lawyer Before You Answer Another Question

Investigators do not wait for you to hire someone. Contact John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm, LLC. Tell us what is happening, and we will tell you what you can do next. You do not have to work out your next move alone.