Charged with Murder or Manslaughter?

The primary difference between murder and manslaughter is the events and intent before the victim is killed. First-degree murder is considered planned and deliberate. First-degree murder can also include contract murder, organized crime or involve hijacking, sexual assault, kidnapping, and terrorist activity. If the murder involves a peace officer or prison employee, it is also considered first-degree murder.

Second-degree murder is not planned but is deliberate and doesn’t fall into the category of first-degree murder.

Manslaughter is neither planned nor deliberate, but someone still dies from the actions of the accused. 

It is important to delineate between these three different charges as it significantly impacts the outcome in court and your sentencing.

Yes, you can be later charged with murder if the victim succumbs to the injuries incurred from an assault. The Crown Prosecutor may retry the case to charge you with murder or manslaughter, depending on specific circumstances.

If you are found guilty of murder, you can face life in prison. 

Those convicted of first-degree may be eligible for parole after 25 years. With a conviction of second-degree murder, you may be eligible for parole after 10 to 25 years. Parole eligibility is determined by the sentencing justice.

Unlike murder charges, manslaughter does not always lead to an automatic sentence of life imprisonment. However, those who are sentenced to life in prison for manslaughter are eligible for parole after serving seven years. If a firearm is involved, a minimum sentence of four years is required, and you will be eligible for parole after serving a third of this sentence.

If you are facing first-degree murder or second-degree murder charges, the first thing you should do is enlist the help of an experienced criminal defence team which has proven experience defending Albertan’s rights in court.

The defence lawyers at Advocate Law throughout Alberta are hand selected based on their reputation in court, their experience and their proven ability to get you the best results possible. Every one of our lawyers is devoted to defending your rights.

Contact Advocate Law now if you have been charged with murder or manslaughter.

Even if someone dies while you are defending yourself, you can still be charged with manslaughter.

However, self defence and defending your property can be used as a part of your defence case in court against manslaughter charges. If your defence attorney can demonstrate that you used reasonable force to defend yourself from being assaulted or the threat of assault, your criminal defence team may be able to remove your liability.

Advocate Law’s defence team thoroughly reviews your case to consider all possibilities to build the best defence for your murder and manslaughter case. 

To defend against complex and technical murder and manslaughter cases, we utilize our deep understanding of all areas of criminal law and draw on trial experience.

We then develop a case to help produce the best outcome possible for you.

You can trust Advocate Law’s experienced team to defend you in court as we have run numerous murder trials, with and without a jury.  

Contact Advocate Law today to learn how we can effectively defend your rights in an Alberta court.