Facing Open Murder Charges in Michigan

In Michigan open murder charges are a common way of stating multiple prosecution theories for a homicide.  If you have a loved one charged with murder in any degree, you should immediately seek the services of a highly skilled criminal trial lawyer.

Expert Michigan Murder Defense

 No homicide accusation is more serious than murder. The penalties for such a conviction are severe and devastating. We wholeheartedly believe in the idea that every person is innocent until proven guilty. If you are being investigated for murder, it is very important to obtain experienced legal representation immediately.

The period before criminal charges are filed is a crucial stage. We can protect you from abuses by police and prosecutors who may use aggressive and exploitative tactics to build a case against you. Don’t speak with police without an attorney present, as this could seriously hurt your case.

It is important to remember that you don’t have to sit back and take unjust accusations. We fight hard to protect your rights and freedom—and we know how to win.  If you need our help, you may contact us online or call (866) 766-5245

 Expert Murder Defense Lawyers

An incredible amount of resources go into investigating and prosecuting murder cases.  A criminal defendant being investigated for homicide faces a daunting challenge.  He should not face that challenge alone.  Because murder charges often come with the possibility of mandatory life in prison with no possibility of parole, the person arrested and accused deserves the best possible defense.

The Kronzek Firm is a premier, full-service law firm, providing aggressive, highly-skilled criminal defense statewide. Our lawyers have over 100 years of combined courtroom experience.

 What is Open Murder?

 Open murder is when the prosecutor has not decided between first degree or second degree murder, but will allow the jury to choose the most appropriate option instead. In addition, second-degree murder happens to be a lesser included crime of first-degree murder. So the jury may be instructed upon this charge as well, if supported by the evidence.

 What is First-Degree Murder?

 First-degree murder is a specific-intent crime and premeditated act. This means the defendant intended and carried out plans to kill another person. This is a specific-intent crime.  Those individuals who are convicted of first-degree murder face life in prison without eligibility for parole.

 For a conviction to result, the prosecutor must prove all parts (or elements) of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. First, it must be proven that the defendant killed another individual. Next, the prosecution needs to show the defendant intended to cause the death. Third, premeditation must be shown. In addition, the prosecutor must show that the killing was deliberate; and therefore, contemplated and weighed out.

 Overall, this type of crime is not a heat-of-the-moment passion killing. This is also not one where there are legal excuses that would reduce it to a lesser crime. This criminal charge is meant for individuals who think about and specifically carry out plans to end another person’s life.  Lying in wait—which is hiding in order to kill a person—is an example of premeditated murder. Another example is poisoning.

First-Degree Felony Murder

 There are many situations that fall under the category of first-degree felony murder.  At trial, the prosecutor must prove all parts of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. First, that the defendant caused the death of another person that was not legally excused or reduced to a lesser crime. Next, it must be shown the defendant intended to kill, cause great bodily harm, or created a very high risk of great bodily harm or death. Third, that the defendant was committing or attempting to commit a felony when the death occurred. In addition, the prosecutor must prove the underlying felony as well.

 In other words, this is murder that occurs during the commission or attempted commission of a number of serious crimes, which include: arson; first-degree child abuse; CSC or criminal sexual conduct (either first, second or third-degree); major drug offenses; carjacking; robbery; breaking and entering into a home; first or second-degree home invasion; any type of larceny or theft; kidnapping; extortion; first or second-degree vulnerable adult abuse; aggravated stalking; and torture.

 In addition, it is first-degree murder to kill a police officer, jail, or prison guard; parole or probation officer; and more; while in the course of performing his or her job duties.

 Second-Degree Murder

 All other types of murder are considered second-degree murder. In other words, second-degree murder is not a specific-intent crime.  The maximum penalty is life in prison, or any term of years, at the court’s discretion.

 The prosecutor must prove all the parts of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction to result at trial. First, the defendant must be shown to have caused another person’s death. Second, that the defendant had the state of mind of intending to kill, cause great bodily harm, or create a very high risk or great bodily harm or death. Third, it must be shown the killing was not a justified one, legally excused, or committed under circumstances that would reduce it to a lesser offense.

 How We Defend Murder Charges

 Facing the daunting task of beating murder charges, you may feel hopeless and tempted to resign yourself to using a court-appointed attorney. Or you may feel that you can’t afford the level of criminal defense that you deserve. However, murder charges do not have to result in a conviction. We can help you. It is also important to remember that your freedom is absolutely priceless. You cannot regain the time that is spent in prison.

Therefore, we provide thorough and comprehensive legal defense. Prosecutors will do everything possible to prove the killing in question was premeditated and that you intended to kill the other person. In response, we have a team of lawyers working on your behalf, crafting innovative and sophisticated legal strategies.

In addition, we utilize expert witnesses including psychologists, polygraph specialists, doctors, experts in DNA evidence, and other investigators to help bring you the best possible outcome. We also critically analyze your case looking for any mistakes made by prosecutors or law enforcement. Finally, we aggressively protect your rights at every stage of the case.

We Can Help You!

We are different than other firms in that we actively work with you on your case, not just for you. If you believe our approach is right for you, contact The Kronzek Firm at 866 766 5245 for a free murder case evaluation today. We are also available 24/7 for emergency situations as well.

More information on Open Murder charges

• What’s The Difference Between First And Second Degree Murder?
    Terms like “First Degree Murder”, “Felony Murder” and “Premeditated Murder” get thrown around on police dramas (often incorrectly!), but for the people watching, they’re just words. Words that don’t carry much weight, because they don’t mean anything. After all, isn’t murder just murder, plain and simple? You either killed someone, or you didn’t.  … Read more: What’s The Difference Between First And Second Degree Murder?
• Michigan Man Exonerated of Murder, But Is He Really Free?
    The murder of Jodi Parrack has been a subject of ongoing investigation and debate in Michigan since the 11-year-old was murdered in November of 2007. Jodi was reported missing at about 7 p.m. by her mother, Valerie Carver, who found her strangled body later that same evening in the local cemetery. But it was… Read more: Michigan Man Exonerated of Murder, But Is He Really Free?
• Assisted Suicide: Statistics Are Now Available From California
    Assisted suicide, like abortion and gun control, tends to be a very polarizing issue. People are either for it, or against it. There aren’t many people who waiver. Certain well-known people, like Stephen Hawking, Diane Rehm, and Terry Pratchett, have advocated for the right-to-die over the years, which has fueled the debate even more.… Read more: Assisted Suicide: Statistics Are Now Available From California
• Couple Headed To Trial For Murder And ‘Safebreaking’
    25-year-old Dymond Leana Squires and 26-year-old Andrew Mack Johnson Jr., a Lansing based couple, are now headed to trial for the murder of an elderly man and the robbery of his home. The victim, 78-year-old John Abraham Sr., was a resident of Lansing who had lived in his home for over 20 years before… Read more: Couple Headed To Trial For Murder And ‘Safebreaking’
• Twice Deported Man Arrested For Murder in Michigan
    A drunk driving case has been settled for 43-year-old Raul Perez, an illegal immigrant to the U.S. who has been deported on two separate occasions before. However, as Kent County, Michigan District Court Judge Steven Timmers said to him when he appeared in court for an unrelated murder charge, “This is probably the least… Read more: Twice Deported Man Arrested For Murder in Michigan
• Parole Denied For East Lansing ‘Serial Killer’
  Michigan has recently denied parole requests made by 61-year-old Michigan inmate Donald Gene Miller.  He was imprisoned in 1979. Miller has been labelled a ‘serial killer’ because he murdered four women and tried to kill several others. The latest release date from the Michigan Department of Corrections is scheduled in March of 2031.   Miller… Read more: Parole Denied For East Lansing ‘Serial Killer’