Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
A judge refused to set bail Wednesday for a 64-year-old Lake Alfred woman accused of killing her 77-year-old husband and burying his body in the couple’s backyard garden.
The woman’s lawyer argued that the woman has seriously health issues that cannot be properly addressed in jail.
The woman is diagnosed with fibromyalgia — a chronic disorder that affects the muscles and causes extensive pain.
The woman apparently takes more than 20 pills a day, including pain killers.
Her attorney asked the Polk County judge to set bail for the woman because her case is “unique,” and because she voluntarily submitted to questioning in front of investigators and a grand jury.
However, the Assistant State Attorney claims the woman has not been truthful in her answers to law enforcement.
The woman was indicted Tuesday on a charge of premeditated first-degree murder.
First-degree premeditated murder is the intentional killing of another person with a deliberate plan to kill. In all homicide cases, the State typically assigns veteran law enforcement officers and prosecutors to investigate and handle these cases. Usually advanced technology is utilized when conducting homicide investigations and more money is spent by the department to perform a thorough investigation, which is why these charges require the assistance of an aggressive criminal defense lawyer to provide an applicable defense. Generally, a person charged with first-degree murder will be denied bond and will sit in jail throughout the entire duration of the legal process.
There are possible defenses to first-degree murder, including:
• Self-defense
• Excusable Homicide
• Justifiable Homicide
First-degree murder is a capital felony, meaning your life is on the line. It is imperative to begin building a zealous defense immediately as this is viewed as the most serious crime on the books in Florida. There are only two potential outcomes following a conviction for first-degree murder: the death penalty or life in prison with zero possibility of parole. Prosecutors may choose to waive the option for the death penalty, but if they do not, and a defendant is convicted, the choice is left to a jury to decide between life and death. Because of the extreme penalties attached to murder charges, it is important to start fighting the process early on.
If you or a loved one has been charged with first-degree murder in Florida, contact the Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton online or reach us statewide and toll-free at 1-866-608-5LAW (5529).