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San Antonio Murder Defense Lawyers

Serious Defense for Severe Criminal Charges

Being accused of willfully taking another’s life, be it an arrest for murder, manslaughter, or homicide, can lead to the harshest penalties a defendant can face. The prison sentence alone can be up to 99 years, and, in certain circumstances, convictions may even result in the death penalty.

If you have been charged with murder, act quickly to retain the help of our San Antonio murder defense attorneys. You may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or you may have been acting out of self-defense, and it is important that your side of the story is told to the judge and jury. Trust The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC to fight for your rights.

Contact us now at (210) 702-2203 if you are facing murder charges in Texas.

The Definition & Degrees of Murder in Texas

In the state of Texas, murder has been defined as willfully and knowledgeably causing another person’s death. Within that definition is a lot of room for nuance – for example, an altercation may have gotten out of control, or perhaps the use of drugs or alcohol left the accused without control of his or her full best judgment.

Texas also delineates two primary degrees of murder and both are felonies. The penalties for these two degrees include:

  • First-degree murder – A conviction generally results in a fine of up to $10,000, along with serving the rest of one’s life in prison
  • Second-degree murder – A conviction could result in a fine of up to $10,000, along with serving up to 20 years in prison

The way that these two classifications are distinguished is whether or not it can be proven that the perpetrator willfully and maliciously intended on taking the victim’s life, or if the crime occurred in the moment from a sudden burst of passion.

Defense Against Murder Charges

While it is understandable why Texas laws come down so stringently on these kinds of crimes, it is important to remember that many of these cases are not so clearly defined. Sometimes a horrible accident occurred, which is tragic but cannot be viewed as murder. Alternatively, there might have been a case of mistaken identity, especially if the environment was dark or difficult to see. Moreover, the case might have been one of self-defense, where the alleged victim was actually the perpetrator, and the defendant was only trying to save their own lives.

Murder investigations require the help of a lawyer who is highly experienced at analyzing complicated exhibits from forensic and scientific experts, in addition to examining autopsies, ballistic tests, and even blood splatter patterns. Whatever the case, you can be sure that our dedicated San Antonio murder defense attorneys are ready to aggressively defend you, building a strong criminal defense strategy on your behalf.

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5-Star Client Testimonials

Your Outcome Matters

At The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, you are our priority. See the different experience makes in our clients' own words.

    "All-Around Amazing!"

    They are so excellent and treat you like family. Very professional, efficient, listen to you and they take it from there. Just all-around amazing!

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    Derek Ritchie is a professional and very reliable attorney. A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders once he took on my case. It was a great feeling to know that I had him on my side.

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    Derek was very knowledgeable and sympathetic to my situation. He answered all my questions and I feel much better about the journey I have ahead of me.

    - Taylor M.
    "I Couldn't Have Asked for Better Representation"

    The whole firm was very caring and empathetic towards the situation and I couldn’t have asked for better legal representation!

    - Former Client
    "They Gave Us Peace and Hope of a Future"

    He went above and beyond what we expected. We will forever recommend his law firm. Mr. Ritchie and Mrs. Vanessa were so much help they kept us informed... just when we thought we knew all the information they gave us more.

    - Former Client
    "Professional with Integrity"

    Mr. Ritchie is a professional with integrity, ethics and a competitive drive to win! So grateful for his counsel. Hope I never need him for any criminal defense, but he works hard and knows family law. Next is some estate planning! Thanks, Derek Ritchie!

    - Nadia N.
    "Lovely to Have Them in my Corner"

    If I had to choose just one word to describe my experience with Mr. Ritchie it would be, marvelous. It was a very lovely experience to have had him in my corner.

    - Traci M.
    "Highly Recommended"

    Highly recommended! Very responsive & handled our legal situation in a timely, professional, & caring manner.

    - Former Client