Winston-Salem Homicide Lawyers

Understanding North Carolina’s Murder Laws

A conviction for first degree murder in North Carolina may result in life in prison or a death sentence. When the stakes are this high, you need an attorney to present the strongest possible criminal defense. The Winston-Salem homicide attorneys at Grace, Tisdale & Clifton have more than 150 years of combined legal experience. Many members of our team are former prosecutors who understand how these cases work from both sides.

Types of Homicide Charges in North Carolina

Homicide charges are almost always tried before a jury, so we begin strategizing a client's defense with this in mind. We can evaluate your legal options and help you fight for the best possible outcome.

Our lawyers have a solid reputation for defending clients accused of:

• First degree murder
• Second degree murder
• Felony murder
• Vehicular manslaughter
• Voluntary manslaughter
• Involuntary manslaughter

Penalties for Homicide Convictions in NC

• First Degree Murder: Charged as a Class A Felony, is punishable by either life without of parole or the death penalty.
• Second Degree Murder: Can be either a Class B1 Felony, which is punishable between a minimum of 192 months and life in prison, or a Class B2 Felony, punishable by a minimum of 125 months in prison.
• Felony Murder: Is aClass A Felony, is punishable by either life without of parole or the death penalty.
• Involuntary Manslaughter: Class F Felony, which is punishable by a minimum of 13 months in prison.
• Voluntary Manslaughter: Class D Felony, which is punishable by a minimum of 51 months in prison.
• Vehicular Homicide: Class F Felony, which is punishable by a minimum of 13 months in prison.

As former prosecutors, many members of our attorneys have seen how district attorneys plan the prosecution. This provides us with a distinct advantage when creating a defense. We defend a number of homicide cases each year and have the legal knowledge, skill, and resources to mount a strong defense for each client.

Building a Strategic Defense Against Homicide Charges

We consider all possible legal defenses, including innocence, a genuine accident, mistaken identity, insanity, self-defense, and other mitigating circumstances. Our decades of experience representing homicide defendants allows us to evaluate your options and develop a thorough defense strategy for your situation.

When a case results in a conviction, you may need to appeal the decision. We represent clients in appellate court, so we are experienced in preserving appellate issues at trial to successfully appeal cases for our clients.