What Do I Need to Know After a Charge of Homicide or Murder in Minnesota?

For starters, do not volunteer information to law enforcement. Always observe your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Second Step: Call A Lawyer

If a police officer calls and asks you to come to the station or deputies are at your door, it is not for a casual chat over coffee. While they are friendly and might even downplay a conversation about a death, there is a good chance that charges of homicide, murder, manslaughter or vehicular homicide could be coming.

You’ll often read about the importance of seeking immediate legal advice. With the penalties (many years to life behind bars), it is crucial to immediately dial an experienced criminal defense attorney who has handled these cases. Once you know there is an issue, you should be able to get right through to obtain counsel – early morning or weekend, it does not matter.

Third: Initial Court Appearances and Preparing a Strong Defense

Once there is an arrest, it is going to be difficult to make bail. By immediately retaining a criminal defense attorney prior to a charge, it might be possible to negotiate and plan for potential incarceration.

At this point, it might seem that hope is lost. Family and other loved ones need to recognize hope still exists, and a positive, supporting attitude can make the difference to the person accused.

A criminal defense attorney will quickly begin building the strongest defense based on the specific facts of a case. This process may include:

• Hiring a private investigator along with going to the scene to analyze whether there was a self-defense component
• Reviewing all police records and medical records for potential gaps in the chain of custody for important evidence, hidden exculpatory evidence (that supports innocence) or issues with evidentiary testing methods
• Hiring a second medical examiner may also be important to challenge the cause of a death 

Each case is different; immediately obtain candid and tailored legal advice to protect your rights. Look for an attorney who is straightforward and assertive. You might even find that some attorneys refer on these tough cases. In fact, we are often the firm that gets these referrals. Regardless of whether you are in the Twin Cities metro or outstate, we will aggressively defend you against these serious allegations.