What Do the Different Degrees of Attempted Murder Charges Mean?

First-degree charges of attempted murder are more serious than second-degree charges. If a person is not found to demonstrate malice aforethought, they may instead face charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter. Charges of first-degree attempted murder in California generally apply to unsuccessful efforts of killing that are willful, premeditated, and deliberate. Under Second-degree murders under Penal Code 189 encompass all other types of murders. If you are charged with second-degree attempted murder, it means the alleged attempt is not considered to have been willful and premeditated and did not utilize a method or occur during a crime as required to constitute a first-degree attempted murder charge.

What's the Sentence for Attempted Murder in California?

The attempted murder penalty in California is significant. Under California Penal Code 664, sentences for convictions for unsuccessful attempts to commit a crime usually amount to half of the jail time the person would have received if the attempt had been successful. In attempted murder cases in which the attempt to kill was deliberate, willful, and premeditated, however, the offender could be facing a life sentence in state prison (with the possibility of parole). Under a second-degree charge of attempted murder, a person could be facing a prison sentence of five, seven, or nine years. An attempted murder charge in which the target was a peace officer or a firefighter carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.

What Should I Look for in a Lawyer to Fight an Attempted Murder Case?

Having an attempted murder defense attorney in Los Angeles, CA, on your side can make all the difference when these serious charges have been filed against you. You should look for a lawyer with experience defending clients charged with homicide, murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, assault, and other serious crimes throughout L.A. Besides building your defense strategy and representing you in court, your attorney serves as your guide throughout the legal process. With the client-centric attention you’ll receive from the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney, you can count on getting reliable answers to your questions and understanding what to expect from the legal process.

The Law Offices of Christopher Chaney/

Los Angeles Violent Crime Lawyer/

Attempted Murder

Los Angeles Attempted Murder Lawyer

★★★★★

View Our Five-Star Reviews

Attempted Murder Defense Attorney in Los Angeles, CA, Serves Clients Accused of Trying to Kill in Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, and All Over Southern California

California law imposes such strict penalties on those accused of attempted murder that you could be looking at years in prison or potentially a life sentence. You need experienced legal representation on your side right away to start putting together a strong defense.

The Law Offices of Christopher Chaney are here to represent your interests and advocate relentlessly for your rights. Contact us today for a confidential consultation with a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney.

818-330-5198Get Help Today. Tell Us Your Story.

Attempted Murder Charges in Los Angeles, CA

When it comes to attempted murder, California takes criminal accusations seriously.

Attempted murder is a criminal charge under sections 664/187(a) of the California Penal Code. Section 187(a) establishes murder as the unlawful killing of a human, including a fetus (without the consent of the pregnant person), that is committed with “malice aforethought.” Section 664 establishes the charge of attempting to commit a crime and the penalties that apply to such attempts.

Neither murder nor attempted murder charges are limited to specific acts or causes. Examples of what may constitute attempted murder in California include any of the following actions or plans in which the accused had the intent to kill, but the victim survived:

Shooting with any type of firearm or other weapon
Stabbing
Poisoning
Strangling
Running down or running over by a car or other vehicle

If you’re facing attempted murder charges in L.A., don’t underestimate the penalties. Even if no lives were lost, a conviction in criminal court could mean throwing away years of your life in prison.

Areas Our Los Angeles Attempted Murder Lawyer Serves

Under California law, the stakes for those accused of attempted murder are very high. That’s why retaining a knowledgeable attempted murder case lawyer to defend you is so important. The Law Offices of Christopher Chaney represent clients charged with attempted murder all over L.A. County and beyond.

The areas we serve include:

Antelope Valley: Lancaster, Palmdale, California City, Lake Los Angeles, Rosamond, Sun Village, and Quartz Hill
Gateway Cities: Long Beach, Norwalk, Downey, Paramount, Compton, South Gate, Bellflower, Huntington Park, Pico Rivera, Lynwood, Lakewood, and Whittier
San Fernando Valley: San Fernando, Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Calabasas, and Universal City
San Gabriel Valley: San Gabriel, Pasadena, Alhambra, West Covina, Baldwin Park, Glendora, Monterey Park, Arcadia, and La Puente
South Bay: Inglewood, Torrance, Hawthorne, Carson, Redondo Beach, San Pedro, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and Hermosa Beach
Westside: Malibu, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina del Rey, Alsace, Ladera Heights, and all of West L.A.

You need a knowledgeable attempted murder defense attorney in Los Angeles, CA, to conduct a thorough investigation into the event that resulted in the criminal charges against you. From our offices in Century City and Van Nuys, we undertake attempted murder charge investigations across L.A. County and beyond.

A Los Angeles Attempted Murder Lawyer Offers Hope for Clients Seeking to Beat the Charges Against Them

As serious as this situation is, a charge of attempted murder in California is not the same as a conviction. With the help of an attempted murder attorney, you could see a more favorable resolution for your case.

Depending on the circumstances, including the charges and the evidence against you, a more favorable outcome might look like one of the following conclusions:

Charges being dropped due to lack of permissible evidence
Charges being downgraded to less serious offenses, such as manslaughter
A strong defense strategy that points out flaws in the prosecution’s case and convinces jurors to issue a not-guilty verdict in a trial
A plea agreement that allows you to serve lighter sentences
Having your legal rights upheld throughout the legal process

To accomplish any of these outcomes, your lawyer must build you a strong defense based on the evidence. Besides conducting an investigation to turn up any evidence in your favor, your attempted murder lawyer will explore all potential arguments that the prosecution’s case fails to prove one or more of the elements of attempted murder charges.

Elements of Attempted Murder in Los Angeles, California

Under California law, the case against you must establish two elements to prove beyond reasonable doubt that you are guilty of the charge against you. Attempted murder elements include the following:

An intent to kill and
The taking of at least one direct step toward this intention.

A legal defense strategy may lie in arguments that there was no intent to kill either a particular person or others in the kill zone. Based on the facts of the case, including any injuries that occurred, a criminal defense lawyer may argue that the intent was to scare or wound the target without killing them.

If the direct step the prosecutor tries to establish doesn’t amount to the actual implementation of a plan to kill, only the planning itself, your attempted murder lawyer may argue that the case against you fails to prove this element.

Depending on the evidence, your Los Angeles attempted murder lawyer may also pursue arguments like the following:

Self-defense
Accidental deaths
Misidentification
False accusations
Lack of malice aforethought
Insanity

Attempted murder cases are complex matters. The more elements the prosecution must prove, the more opportunities exist for a skilled Los Angeles attempted murder lawyer to counter with a robust defense that raises questions and showcases weaknesses in the case against you.

Contact a Los Angeles Attempted Murder Lawyer at the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney for a Free, Confidential Consultation

It’s time to bring in an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you figure out your next steps. For help from an attempted murder defense attorney in Los Angeles, California, contact the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney online or call (310) 209-3999 today.

Attempted Murder Charges Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

First-degree charges of attempted murder are more serious than second-degree charges. If a person is not found to demonstrate malice aforethought, they may instead face charges of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.
Charges of first-degree attempted murder in California generally apply to unsuccessful efforts of killing that are willful, premeditated, and deliberate. Under California Penal Code 189, first-degree murder also includes murders committed in the perpetration of certain other violent crimes, as well as those performed by firing a firearm from a motor vehicle or using an explosive, another destructive device, or a weapon of mass destruction.
Second-degree murders under Penal Code 189 encompass all other types of murders. If you are charged with second-degree attempted murder, it means the alleged attempt is not considered to have been willful and premeditated and did not utilize a method or occur during a crime as required to constitute a first-degree attempted murder charge.
The attempted murder penalty in California is significant. Under California Penal Code 664, sentences for convictions for unsuccessful attempts to commit a crime usually amount to half of the jail time the person would have received if the attempt had been successful. In attempted murder cases in which the attempt to kill was deliberate, willful, and premeditated, however, the offender could be facing a life sentence in state prison (with the possibility of parole).

Under a second-degree charge of attempted murder, a person could be facing a prison sentence of five, seven, or nine years.

An attempted murder charge in which the target was a peace officer or a firefighter carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
Having an attempted murder defense attorney in Los Angeles, CA, on your side can make all the difference when these serious charges have been filed against you. You should look for a lawyer with experience defending clients charged with homicide, murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, assault, and other serious crimes throughout L.A.

Besides building your defense strategy and representing you in court, your attorney serves as your guide throughout the legal process. With the client-centric attention you’ll receive from the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney, you can count on getting reliable answers to your questions and understanding what to expect from the legal process.

Schedule Your Consultation

Regardless of your circumstance, you are not alone in your fight. We are ready to stand by your side and fight for your rights, freedom, and reputation. Contact us today to schedule a free remote or in-person consultation, and let us assist you in finding a solution to your problem.

Schedule Your Consultation 818-330-5198

Client Reviews

Reviews matter when choosing an attorney. Here what our clients have to say about working with our firm.

Meet Our Team

Our team will listen to your concerns, examine all the facts surrounding your case, and come up with a strategy to get you back on your feet.

Helpful Articles

Explore our collection of helpful blogs and articles designed to answer questions you may have regarding your criminal case.

Get in Touch

Contact us today to schedule a free remote or in-person consultation, and let us assist you in finding a solution to your problem.