Los Angeles Murder & Manslaughter Attorney

First Degree Murder

Los Angeles , CA
MURDER

Client is a live-in girlfriend accused of shooting her companion pointblank, twice through the heart with a .38 revolver. D.A. charged 1st degree murder plus gun enhancement, total 50 years to life. Bernstein defended in jury trial as suicide, resulting in a hung jury. D.A., not wanting to face Bernstein in trial again, offered client voluntary manslaughter, 3 years.

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Involved Hispanic gang and shooting young man in back of head as he walked away, killing him; four eye-witnesses testified at jury trial client charged with 1st degree murder with handgun enhancement. Jury Trial, verdict: No verdict-hung jury.

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Los Angeles , CA MURDER APPEAL:
Federal 9th. Circuit Court of Appeals,
Client charged and convicted of shooting his wife at point blank range, killing her. Bernstein retained to appeal the jury verdict of murder plus handgun enhancements. Client had received a Die in Prison sentence. Bernstein filed a writ of habeas corpus based upon judicial error regarding juror conduct at trial. Result: Bernstein’s writ was granted by the Magistrate Judge of the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The client was ordered to be released forthwith or granted a new trial with 120 days. The Prosecution is expected to appeal.

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The murderer's name was written in the victims' own blood as he lay dying. Client was facing the Death Penalty in an execution style murder during a dope deal robbery. He spent five months in custody until family retained Attorney Bernstein. The District Attorney dismissed the case. Bernstein walked his client out of the Courthouse.

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Los Angeles First Degree Murder Defense Attorney

California’s Premier Criminal Defense Lawyer

First degree murder is defined as the murder of another person with premeditation or “malice aforethought”. Premeditation describes an action that is carried out with planning or deliberation; malice aforethought describes a murder that is carried out intentionally, recklessly, and with extreme disregard for human life. Even if murder takes only a few seconds to plan, it can still qualify as murder in the first degree. California is one of many states that follow the legal concept known as the “felony murder rule,” which states that a person can commit first degree murder if a death (even if accidental) results from the commission of another crime such as arson, burglary, kidnapping, rape or robbery.

In California, a first degree murder conviction is a felony offense and typically carries a prison sentence of 25 years to life without the possibility of parole. Some first degree murder sentences may even carry the death penalty.

If you or a loved one has been accused of first degree murder, it is important to act fast and retain the services of an experienced attorney. At the Law Offices of Barry Bernstein, we have the experience necessary to help you obtain the best possible outcome for your case. A Major Felony Trial Specialist, Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Barry Bernstein has over 40 years of legal experience and is a member of “The Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers” and is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating available (“A” meaning the highest legal ability and “V” meaning the highest ethical standards.)

First Degree Murder in California

First degree murder, in California, is a homicide that is “willful, deliberate and premeditated,” or that is committed during the commission or attempt to commit, a crime. A person who is found guilty of murder in the first degree in California may be punished by a 25 year to life state prison imprisonment, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, or by the death penalty. 

Los Angeles attorney Barry O. Bernstein is ready to help you with your first degree murder charge, helping to reduce your sentence or possibly get your charges dropped altogether.

 Accused of first degree murder in Los Angeles? Contact us today!