South Carolina Death Penalty Defense Law Firm
Obviously, when you have been arrested on suspicion of murder, the potential consequences are severe. If you are found guilty of certain crimes in federal court or state court, such as murder with an aggravating circumstance, you could be facing the death penalty.
When your life is on the line, one of the most important things you can do is to hire an attorney who has experience in death penalty cases. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Richard J. Breibart, LLC, have just that: experience defending against a multitude of criminal offenses, from federal drug crimes to violent crimes and the death penalty. We have represented people in more than 4,000 criminal matters, including more than 30 homicide charges, seven of which involved the death penalty. To learn more about how we can help you with your murder charges in South Carolina, contact our firm online or call 866-645-8743.
When the Death Penalty Is Sought
Just because someone dies, it does not necessarily mean that the death penalty can be sought — in fact, the death penalty cannot be a consequence of manslaughter or vehicular homicide. Federal law and South Carolina law involving the death penalty vary, but generally the death penalty can be sought when the underlying crime involves:
- Terrorism
- Murder, with the intent to kill
- Killing of a law enforcement officer or murder of a judicial or public figure
- Murder in conjunction with a violent felony such as rape, burglary or kidnapping
- Murder for hire or assassination
- Multiple murders
- Murder of someone under the age of 11
- Sexual violence
Defending Against the Death Penalty
While it is ultimately up to the prosecution whether it wants to ask that you be sentenced to death, there are a number of mitigating circumstances that a capital punishment attorney can use to advocate for a lesser sentence, including:
- No previous violent crime convictions
- Mental disturbance or impairment
- Duress
- Limited role, such as a minor accomplice
- Under age 18 or lacked sufficient mental capacity to understand the severity of the matter
- Victim provoked or consented to the action or participated in a crime
Contact a Lexington Death Penalty Lawyer
Whether you're on trial for murder, awaiting sentencing or want to appeal your death sentence, we can help. When the stakes are high, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Richard J. Breibart, LLC, can help you every step of the way. For a free consultation with an experienced South Carolina death penalty attorney, call 866-645-8743 or send an e-mail. We serve the entire state, from Gaston to Greenville.
