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In Illinois there are various degrees of murder, including first and second degree murder, and related offenses such as involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, drug induced homicide, and concealment of a homicidal death.
Murder crimes and related charges are some of the most serious crimes a person can be accused of committing. The penalties for a conviction are devastating and the choice of legal counsel to fight on your behalf is probably the most important decision you will ever make and can determine the course of the rest of your life. At Motta & Motta, we have a nationally recognized team of highly experienced trial lawyers and legal professionals dedicated to fighting for clients facing murder related charges and Class X Felonies.
To obtain a murder conviction, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant’s actions caused the victim’s death. However, it does not need to prove that that defendant specifically intended to kill another or that the defendant’s acts were the only cause of death. The state only needs to prove that the defendant intentionally committed an act creating a strong probability of great harm and that act resulted in death. Therefore, a defendant can be found guilty of murder when his criminal act set in motion a chain of events which resulted in death.
A common misconception is that motive is an element of murder in Illinois. However, motive is in fact not an element of the murder. The state needs to prove an intentional act but not an actual intent to kill another. Motive is still something law enforcement and the prosecution want to establish for the jury or judge because by establishing that the defendant had a motive, the state supports its position that the defendant did in fact kill the victim. For this reason, people who law enforcement consider to have a motive for the killing become targets of their investigation.
If the police wish to speak with you as part of their investigation into a murder, you should not speak to law enforcement without first speaking with an experienced criminal defense attorney. You may think you can rationalize with law enforcement and that by speaking with them you can clear your name but too often this is simply not the case.
Alison and her husband Bob WILL fight for your rights! Extremely smart and they definitely get the job done. Talked to them in person after my life had suddenly been altered. They made me feel confident that I can live my life and I also loved the fact that on the very first phone call, Alison waz asking all sorts of questions. They really do care about you and you’re family and she even sends texts just to see how you’re doing. I can’t recommend them enough!
If you have been charged with, or believe you will be charged with, a criminal offense in the Chicago area, contact our law offices right away. In a criminal case, every second matters. The earlier you contact a criminal defense attorney, the sooner they can get to work building your case.
Fill out the form to receive your free case evaluation and one of our team members will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
If you need to speak with an attorney now, please give us a call at our Chicago, IL or Aurora, IL office to discuss the specifics of your case and what defense options may be available to you
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