Syracuse Homicide Lawyer

Were you charged with homicide in Syracuse, New York? Contact Passalacqua & Associates, LLC at (315) 500-6425 to discuss your case. Our Syracuse homicide lawyers can help you fight back against the prosecution and work toward the most favorable outcome possible under state law.

We’re a trusted criminal defense firm that has been serving clients in the Syracuse area for years. Our legal team has 50 years of combined experience and has successfully represented defendants facing the most serious criminal charges New York has to offer. We’ll bring that same level of commitment to your case from the moment you decide to hire us.

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Why Hire Passalacqua & Associates, LLC if I’ve Been Charged With Homicide in Syracuse, New York?

The prosecution is already building its case against you if you’ve been arrested on homicide charges and already believes you are guilty as well. Hiring an experienced Syracuse criminal defense attorney with Passalacqua & Associates, LLC will allow you to level the playing field with the state and ensure your side of the story is heard.

A few reasons to consider choosing our firm for your defense:

We have decades of combined experience defending clients against all kinds of criminal offenses.
Our trial attorneys have a deep understanding of New York homicide law and courtroom procedure.
We’ve been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers, the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, and other leading organizations for our work.
We can work with forensic experts and other specialists as needed.
We’ll represent you at every court hearing and appearance, including at trial if needed.

Your freedom is too important to leave to chance. Contact our homicide lawyers in Syracuse, NY, today to schedule a time to speak with a criminal defense lawyer and learn about what you should do next.

Overview of New York Homicide Law

New York’s Penal Law classifies homicide into several distinct offenses, each carrying different elements and penalties. Some of the primary categories include the following:

Murder in the Second Degree (Penal Law § 125.25)

This is the most commonly charged murder offense in New York. A person commits murder in the second degree when they intentionally cause the death of another person. It can also apply when a death occurs during the commission of certain felonies, which is known as felony murder. Second-degree murder is a Class A-I felony.

Murder in the First Degree (Penal Law § 125.27)

First-degree murder applies in narrower circumstances, such as when the victim is a police officer killed in the line of duty. It may also apply when certain aggravating factors are present, including murder for hire, the intentional killing of multiple victims, or when the defendant has a prior murder conviction. This is a Class A-I felony and carries the most severe penalties under New York law.

Manslaughter in the First Degree (Penal Law § 125.20)

First-degree manslaughter covers situations where a person intends to cause serious physical injury to another person and that injury results in death. It also applies in certain cases involving extreme emotional disturbance. This is a Class B felony.

Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Penal Law § 125.15)

Second-degree manslaughter involves recklessly causing the death of another person. This charge doesn’t require proof of intent to kill or injure, only that the defendant acted with a conscious disregard of a substantial risk. It’s a Class C felony offense.

Criminally Negligent Homicide (Penal Law § 125.10)

This is the least severe homicide charge in New York. Criminally negligent homicide applies when a person causes someone’s death through criminal negligence, meaning they failed to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk. It’s a Class E felony.

Potential Penalties for a Homicide Conviction in Syracuse

The penalties for a homicide conviction in New York are among the harshest in the state’s criminal code, as these offenses are usually charged as serious felonies. The exact sentence will ultimately depend on various factors, including the specific charge in question and the defendant’s criminal history.

Here’s a summary of what each charge carries:

Murder in the first degree: Life imprisonment without parole
Murder in the second degree: 15 years to life in prison
Manslaughter in the first degree: Up to 25 years in prison
Manslaughter in the second degree: Up to 15 years in prison
Criminally negligent homicide: Up to 4 years in prison

A homicide conviction in Syracuse can carry life-altering consequences, including lengthy prison sentences or even life without parole.

Collateral Consequences of a Homicide Charge

Beyond the prison sentence itself, a homicide conviction creates permanent consequences that follow you even after release. These include:

A lasting felony criminal record
Loss of voting rights while incarcerated
Severe limitations on employment and housing
Lasting damage to your personal relationships and reputation

Given what’s at stake, mounting the best possible defense from the outset is absolutely critical. Every decision made early in the case, from what you say to law enforcement to which attorney you hire, can shape the outcome in ways that are difficult to undo later.

What Defenses Can I Raise Against Homicide Charges in Syracuse, NY?

The prosecution bears the burden of proving every element of the homicide charge against you beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s the highest standard of proof in the legal system, potentially creating real opportunities for your criminal defense lawyer to form an effective response.

Some of the defenses that may apply include:

Self-defense: New York law allows the use of deadly physical force when a person reasonably believes it’s necessary to protect themselves or someone else from the imminent use of deadly force. If the evidence supports this, it can serve as a complete justification for the act.
Lack of intent: Many homicide charges require the prosecution to prove a specific mental state, such as intent to kill. If that element can’t be established, the charge may not hold up and could be reduced to a lesser offense.
Extreme emotional disturbance: Under certain circumstances, a defendant who acted under the influence of an extreme emotional disturbance may have a murder charge reduced to manslaughter in the first degree. This is an affirmative defense, meaning the defendant has the burden of proving it.
False accusation: Eyewitness identifications are notoriously unreliable. If there’s any question about whether you were actually the person involved, this defense can be powerful, particularly when alibi evidence is present.
Constitutional violations: If law enforcement violated your rights at any point during the investigation, the evidence they obtained may be inadmissible. This includes coerced confessions and failures to provide Miranda warnings during custodial interrogation.
Challenging forensic evidence: DNA analysis and other forensic evidence are often treated as ironclad by the prosecution, but they’re not immune to error. Lab contamination, flawed testing procedures, and misinterpretation of results can all be called into question by a qualified expert.

Multiple defenses can be raised simultaneously depending on the circumstances. Our homicide lawyers in Syracuse will evaluate every possible angle and build a strategy tailored specifically to your case.

How Can a Syracuse Criminal Defense Lawyer Help With My Homicide Case?

A homicide charge demands a level of legal representation that goes far beyond what most criminal cases require. Here’s what working with Passalacqua & Associates, LLC looks like in a homicide case:

Investigation: Our involvement starts the moment you contact us. We’ll advise you on how to interact with law enforcement and begin conducting our own independent investigation immediately.
Pretrial proceedings: Once charges are filed, the pretrial phase is where much of the real work happens. Our attorneys will take steps like filing motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence and request disclosure of all evidence the prosecution intends to use against you.
Plea negotiations: Not every homicide case goes to trial. In some situations, negotiating with the prosecution may be in your best interest. We will work to have your charges dismissed if at all possible, though note that we cannot guarantee a particular outcome in advance.
Trial: If your case does go to trial, you’ll have a defense team that’s prepared to fight for you in front of a jury. We’ve spent years in Syracuse courtrooms and understand what it takes to create reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors.
Post-conviction: If the outcome isn’t favorable, we can explore post-conviction options such as filing an appeal or a motion to set aside the verdict. We don’t walk away from our clients just because the trial and initial case are finished.

Having experienced legal representation throughout each stage of a homicide case can make a significant difference in how your case is handled and resolved.

Contact Our Syracuse Homicide Attorneys for Help Today

A homicide charge is the most serious situation you may ever face in your life. You owe it to yourself to hire a criminal defense attorney who treats your case with the urgency and dedication it demands. Passalacqua & Associates, LLC will prioritize your case from the beginning if you hire us to represent you in Syracuse, NY.

Contact our Syracuse homicide attorneys today to schedule a confidential consultation. We have 50 years of combined experience helping clients successfully respond to criminal charges like these and are confident we can help you as well.

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Passalacqua & Associates, LLC
499 S Warren St #220,
Syracuse, NY 13202
Open 24/7
(315) 500-6425