Murder

The Law

There are a few different types of murder described in the Texas Penal Code as listed below:

• Capital Murder: A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual. If convicted, this offense is a capital felony.
• Manslaughter: A person commits an offense if he recklessly causes the death of an individual. If convicted, this offense is a first degree felony.
• Criminally Negligent Homicide: A person commits an offense if he causes the death of an individual by criminal negligence. If convicted, this offense is a state jail felony.

Punishment

• Capital Felony: An individual adjudged guilty of a capital felony in a case in which the state seeks the death penalty shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life without parole or by death. An individual adjudged guilty of a capital felony in a case in which the state does not seek the death penalty shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for:
• life, if the individual committed the offense when younger than 18 years of age; or
• life without parole, if the individual committed the offense when 18 years of age or older.
• First Degree Felony: An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the first degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for life or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than 5 years.
• In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the first degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.
• State Jail Felony: an individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony shall be punished by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than two years or less than 180 days.

(1)  In addition to confinement, an individual adjudged guilty of a state jail felony may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Defense

There are a variety of defenses you can use to fight Murder charges:

• Self defense
• Sudden passion

The exact language of this law, further details, and additional punishment concerns can be found in Section 19.03 of the Texas Penal Code. None of this information can take place of the information, knowledge, and expertise provided by a licensed attorney.