- 18.2-30 – Murder and manslaughter declared felonies
“Any person who commits capital murder, the murder of the first degree, the murder of the second degree, voluntary manslaughter, or involuntary manslaughter, shall be guilty of a felony.”
“Capital Murder”
As per the Code of Virginia, capital murder will be treated for a Class 1 felony if it is found that the offender has deliberately or willfully killed a person. This also includes situations such as abductions, murder-for-hire, during a rape or a robbery. In case of murdering a public service personnel like a law enforcement officer or a fire marshal, the offender will be held accountable for capital murder charges. The punishment for this offense will be the offender receiving a death sentence or the verdict to spend their entire life in prison. In addition, the offender will be liable to pay a fine of no more than $100,000.
“First Degree Murder”
As per the Code of Virginia, any individual committing the offense of murder by using poison, imprisoning or starving their victim, or lays in wait, will be sentenced guilty of first-degree murder. Any premeditated or deliberate behavior that causes the victim’s death will be found guilty of a Class 2 felony first-degree murder penalty. The offender charged with this crime will have to pay a fine of no more than $100,000 and a verdict of serving 20 years of life as jail time.
“Second Degree Murder”
As per the Code of Virginia, any individual killing another individual out of hate and spite will be charged with second-degree murder. It is not necessary that the offender’s intentions have to be proved to charge them with second-degree murder. If the offender’s behavior is believed to be extreme recklessness, it will be sufficient enough as proof for a second-degree murder. The offender might be sentenced to serve jail time of 5 to forty years for this offense.
“Manslaughter Charges”
As per the Code of Virginia, any individual unlawfully killing another individual without any intentions of hate and spite will be charged with voluntary manslaughter. Generally, this kind of murder happens when the offender is provoked. Other conditions can also end on involuntary manslaughter charges. The offender will be placed guilty of Class 5 felony where they will have to pay a fine no more than $2,500 and serve jail time for no more than 10 years. Those found to be guilty of the charge of manslaughter must consider consulting an Alexandria – Virginia homicide lawyer.
“Involuntary Manslaughter”
As per the Code of Virginia, any individual who unintentionally kills another individual while committing an unlawful act will be considered an act of involuntary manslaughter. Any offender charged for this offense will have to serve the penalty of paying a fine no more than $2,500 and jail time of no more than 10 years. These penalties are the same as for a voluntary manslaughter crime.
Get Your Alexandria – Virginian Homicide Attorney by Your Side
If you have been charged with any kind of homicide offense, get the help of your attorney in order to defend your rights in court.