Award-Winning Murder + Homicide Attorney in St. Paul, Minnesota

St. Paul 1st Degree Manslaughter, Murder, and Homicide Lawyer

Murder charges are the most serious charges that anybody can face in Minnesota. If arrested, you could face years in prison and under certain circumstances, life without the possibility of parole. Because so much is at stake,  it is critical that if the police want to question you, don’t think you can talk your way out of it. You can’t. Immediately ask for a lawyer and call Jack Rice Defense.  

When approaching murder and manslaughter cases in Minnesota, one of the first considerations is to understand how the police handle these kinds of cases. Simply put, the police and prosecutors are immediately under pressure to charge and convict. The cases are high profile and they don’t want to make a mistake. From the beginning, as soon as the police believe that a murder has been committed, they automatically increase the resources dramatically to increase the odds they will get that conviction. So, it is critical that you have a defense team that can respond, confront it directly, and develops a defense. Jack Rice Defense has years of experience doing just that. How do you Beat Murder and Manslaughter Charges in Minnesota - 4 Steps to Success.

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Understanding Murder Charges in St. Paul, MN

There are multiple levels of murder and manslaughter charges. While they are similar in some ways, the differences in terms of sentencing can be massive.  Possible murder charges include:

First Degree Murder in Minnesota

If you are convicted of first degree murder, the sentence is life in prison. This could also be the charge if the allegation is killing a person while committing a sex act with force or violence, intentionally killing a cop, or killing somebody with premeditation. 

Second Degree Murder in Minnesota

There are two kinds of second degree murder, intentional and unintentional. If convicted of second degree murder, regardless of intent, the offense carries up to forty years in prison. Intentional second degree murder is intentional murder without premeditation. Drive-by shootings often fall within this category. Unintentional murder, on the other hand applies to two instances, unintentional murder while committing a felony as well as when in violation of certain orders for protection.

Third Degree Murder in Minnesota

This type of murder charge involves an unintentional killing during a dangerous act with a depraved state of mind. This offense carries up to twenty-five years in prison. Generally, if charged with third degree murder rather than manslaughter, the facts are sufficiently atrocious to push it out of manslaughter range. Third degree murder is frequently charged when providing drugs to another and death occurs. It was also charged in the Chauvin murder trial.  

St. Paul, Minnesota Manslaughter + Criminal Vehicular Homicide

In the event of death, there are three other potential criminal charges in Minnesota, two forms of manslaughter and Criminal Vehicular Homicide.

First Degree Manslaughter in Minnesota

This is an unintentional act in which death occurs because of heat of passion. If convicted of First Degree Manslaughter, the offense carries up to fifteen years in prison. There are also certain child abuse and drug crimes that could result in voluntary manslaughter.  

Second Degree Manslaughter in Minnesota

This is also an unintentional act in which death occurs but instead applies because of reckless or negligent behavior. If convicted of second degree manslaughter, the offense carries up to ten years in prison. It is frequently known as involuntary manslaughter.  

Criminal Vehicular Homicide in Minnesota

This is typically charged when somebody is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and a car accident results in death. If convicted of criminal vehicular homicide, the offense carries up to fifteen years in prison. It involves driving in a negligent or grossly negligent manner

Criminal Ramifications from Murder and Manslaughter Charges

Knowing how the police and prosecutors approach these cases is the first step for an experienced and qualified murder/homicide lawyer. Watching what they do, and don't do may be critical. Knowing the resources they spend, the experts they present and more can also make all of the difference. However, it is also about how a criminal defense attorney picks a jury, how they prepare your case that is also required. Don't settle for second best.  

Jack Rice Defense has been handling murder and manslaughter cases for decades.  It is absolutely critical that you bring in an experienced, capable and aggressive murder/homicide lawyer. The government will be coming at these cases from multiple directions and will be under pressure to get a conviction.  You need somebody who sees what is coming, prepare, and will fight back. Jack will. Contact Jack Rice Defense for a free consultation.

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FAQs About Minnesota Murder + Homicide

  • Simply put, murder is the crime of killing someone. In Minnesota, there are three degrees of murder. First-degree murder is the most serious, and it is reserved for murders that were premeditated, occurred during the commission of some other crimes, or were perpetrated against a police officer. Second- and third-degree murder apply to other specific scenarios; they are less sever charges but still come with hefty prison sentences.

  • Manslaughter is the killing of another person in a way that is seen as less intentional in the eyes of the law. However, the courts still want to hold someone accountable for taking a life, even if it wasn’t intentional. One common manslaughter charge in MN is criminal vehicular manslaughter. A person is found guilty of this charge if they killed another individual while driving in a reckless or negligent manner.

  • In Minnesota, we have first-, second-, and third-degree murder charges. First-degree murders are premeditated, happen during the commission of certain other crimes, and/or are perpetrated against a police officer. Second-degree murder is a murder committed intentionally but without premeditation, or one that is committed unintentionally during another crime that was being committed with the intent of bodily injury. Third-degree murder charges are reserved for deaths arising from drug use and those unintentionally caused by the defendant while committing an eminently dangerous act.

  • Sadly, you may still be charged with murder if you killed someone in self-defense. However, this does not mean that you will have to go through an entire trial to prove your innocence. When you work with a homicide defense attorney, you may be able to have your charges dismissed before you ever have to face a jury. If not, you may have to go through a trial to prove your innocence.

  • Murder is considered one of the most serious crimes, so sentencing guidelines are harsh. The punishment for first-degree murder in MN is life in prison without parole. Second- and third-degree murder convictions can result in 40 and 25 years in prison, respectively.

  • With the assistance of a criminal defense attorney who has experience defending against murder charges. The stakes could not be higher right now – your whole life is on the line. Do not speak to law enforcement or do anything potentially incriminating without speaking to an attorney.

  • Not every criminal defense attorney has experience defending against murder charges. This is not the time to be an attorney’s “first;” you need to work with a lawyer who has done this before and knows about all possible outcomes. This will make for a more solid defense. It also helps to have a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist.

  • The only way you may be able to beat a murder charge is by working with a knowledgable criminal defense attorney. Your attorney will advise you of possible options that may resolve your case, such as pleading not guilty, having the charges dismissed, or accepting a plea deal for a lesser crime.

  • An experienced murder defense attorney understands how cases just like yours have panned out. Knowledgeable lawyers will leave no stone unturned when coming up with evidence and ideas for your defense.

  • If you are convicted of murder in Minnesota, you could easily be sentenced to prison time. Sentences range from 25 years for third-degree murder to life in prison without parole for first-degree, premeditated murder.

  • If you are wrongfully accused of murder, you will need to provide evidence that the charge should be dismissed, or you should be prepared to go to court and argue your innocence. If you do believe there is evidence of your innocence, speak to a criminal defense attorney about presenting it to the courts.

  • Jack Rice is a MSBA Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist with experience defending against murder charges. Whether you are innocent, killed in self-defense, or want to plead guilty, Jack knows how to help. Don’t trust anyone else with your case!