Murder, manslaughter, and attempted murder are the most serious charges which can be prosecuted against an individual. In Queensland, offenders found guilty of any of these offences can be sentenced to life imprisonment.
The difference between murder and manslaughter is the element of intent. It must be proved that the defendant intended to kill the victim or to cause grievous bodily harm and therefore is guilty of murder.
At Anderson Telford Lawyers, our criminal lawyers represent clients in murder and manslaughter cases in Townsville and Mount Isa. For more information on our criminal defence services, get in touch with us today. Contact us online or call us on 07 4721 5870 or on our 24-hour line 0418 762 728.
Section 302 of the Queensland Criminal Code stipulates murder as an event where a person unlawfully kills one or more persons in these circumstances:
Although murder usually involves an intention of hurting or killing the victim, you could still be facing a charge even if there was no intent. If death was an outcome that could be reasonably foreseen, a charge could still be laid.
The Supreme Court is the jurisdiction which tries murder charges and the mandatory penalty is life in prison.
If you are a direct participant in an incident that resulted in the death of another person and you directly caused their death but without intending to do so, you could be charged with manslaughter.
Some typical examples of manslaughter include:
An assault on another person that results in their death, although you did not intend that outcome. For example, you might punch and knock the person to the ground, and they might hit their head on the pathway, which causes death.
The critical thing to remember is that the manslaughter charge often means there were no indications that would point to murder, as there was not any proof of an intention to kill.
Since murder and manslaughter charges are extremely serious, it is vital to contact ATL immediately. The 24/7 Crime Line 0418 762 728 available to our clients facilitates this outcome.
If you are being held in a police station, use your right to a phone call to contact the ATL team. They will focus on the analysis of all details of your case to identify the best possible defence, which could include arguing the death was in self-defence.
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