Homicide Offenses

  On November 30, 2021, a mass shooting occurred at Oxford High School in Oakland County, Michigan where four students were killed and seven people were injured.  Law enforcement arrested and charged 15-year old high school sophomore Ethan Crumbley as a suspect...

  Michigan law enshrines the right to use deadly force in self-defense or defense of others when permitted to do so.  In addition, a person is also presumed to be allowed to use deadly force in self-defense or defense of others when he or she is attacked in their...

  In Michigan, there are certain circumstances in which a person may use deadly force in self-defense against another person.  If someone uses lethal power outside of the boundaries of the law, then he or she could be charged with murder or manslaughter.  Many...

  The crime of involuntary manslaughter in Michigan is one of the lowest level homicide offenses you can be charged with when someone is killed.  This category is intended to cover homicides that fall into the “accidental" category, meaning that the actor did not...

  The crime of voluntary manslaughter is a homicide offense in the State of Michigan that can result in substantial fines and prison time.  It is not as severe as the crime of murder (which can result in prison for life) but is much more serious than negligent...

  At common law, the felony-murder rule is a legal doctrine that expands the crime of murder to situations where the offender does not necessarily have the intent to kill.  If an offender is involved in the commission of a felony (e.g. armed robbery, rape or...

  There are two tiers of murder in Michigan: first-degree murder and second-degree murder.  First-degree murder is the killing of another person with malice but with the aggravating factors of premeditation or deliberation, felony-murder or the killing of a peace...

  There are two tiers of murder in Michigan: first-degree murder and second-degree murder.  A killing that results in a conviction for first-degree murder will cause the offender to spend the rest of his or her natural life in prison.  What are the grounds for a...

  The Michigan Penal Code enumerates and punishes two different types of murder. SECOND-DEGREE MURDER: The elements of second-degree murder are (1) a death, (2) caused by an act of the defendant, (3) with malice and (4) without justification.  Malice is defined...