What should someone do after being accused of aggravated murder?

They should contact defense counsel immediately and avoid speaking with police, prosecutors, witnesses, codefendants, employers, or media without counsel. Early defense work can affect statements, bail, forensic preservation, grand jury strategy, and investigation direction.

Can aggravated murder charges be challenged?

Yes. Potential defenses may involve intent, causation, identity, justification, accident, forensic evidence, medical proof, reconstruction, witness reliability, search legality, statements, or whether prosecutors can prove the exact homicide offense charged.

Why does the exact homicide charge matter?

Different homicide charges require different proof and carry different exposure. The defense strategy should be built around the exact statute, mental state, causation theory, forensic record, and collateral consequences.

New York Homicide Defense

New York Aggravated Murder Lawyer

Lebedin Kofman LLP defends clients facing aggravated murder allegations in New York, including the highest-exposure homicide prosecutions involving complex forensic, witness, and constitutional issues.

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Defense for aggravated murder

The New York Courts Penal Law jury-instruction table lists Article 125 Homicide and Related Offenses as its own offense group. Homicide charges require charge-specific defense work because intent, recklessness, negligence, causation, justification, and aggravating facts can change the entire case.

These cases may involve forensic evidence, medical examiner materials, accident reconstruction, ballistics, DNA, phone and location data, surveillance, 911 calls, witness statements, statements by the accused, and extensive discovery.

What Prosecutors May Focus On

The exact mental state and causation theory alleged.
Forensic, medical, reconstruction, video, phone, and witness evidence.
Statements, search warrants, co-defendant evidence, motive evidence, and alleged conduct before or after the incident.

Defense Issues to Review Early

Intent, identity, causation, accident, justification, self-defense, and lesser-included offense issues.
Forensic reliability, medical examiner conclusions, reconstruction assumptions, search legality, and statement suppression.
Bail, grand jury, preservation of evidence, expert consultation, media sensitivity, and collateral consequences.

How Lebedin Kofman Approaches Homicide Cases

Lebedin Kofman LLP evaluates the statute charged, the evidence, police conduct, forensic record, and client goals from the outset. The defense may involve immediate investigation, grand jury advocacy, suppression motions, expert review, negotiation, mitigation, or trial preparation.

Related Defense Pages

Contact a New York Homicide Defense Attorney

If you are under investigation or charged with aggravated murder, contact defense counsel immediately.

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Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts, evidence, procedural posture, and applicable law.