Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
A 21-year-old woman has been accused of murdering an 83-year-old man found dead in a motel room in Tampa. She faces charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery and as of Saturday, she remained in the Hillsborough County Jail.
According to police reports, someone dialed 911 to report an elderly man deceased in a motel room. The only information released is that the man was found Friday with “upper body trauma.”
The victim has yet to be identified. It is also unknown whether the woman has retained legal counsel for the charges she faces.
With so few facts being released about this case, it is hard to expound on the predicament this woman faces. Generally speaking, first-degree murder is considered a Capital Offense in Florida with the possible punishments being quite severe; the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. With that said, any time someone is accused of murder, it is extremely important to contact a Florida Criminal Defense Attorney to start investigating your case immediately. Your rights can be best protected once you have an attorney with the highest caliber of professionalism on your side.
The killing of another human being can be justified as excusable homicide if a few circumstances can be proved: the killing took place due to an accident carried out by a lawful act and without any unlawful intent, the killing was the result of a mishap in the heat of the moment following ample provocation or the killing came about due to an unexpected attack that was not carried out in a cruel and unusual manner with no dangerous weapon used. Under Florida law, justifiable homicide can be a defense to first-degree murder if a party is killed while you were resisting someone attempting to kill you or commit a felony against you. Self-defense can also play a part in a murder defense, if the use of deadly force can be justified.
If you have been arrested for first-degree murder in Florida and are thinking of defending yourself or are contemplating accepting the legal aid appointed to you, please call the Florida Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton today. We can offer you a free consultation and will not falter in our attempts to guide you through the best possible course of action that can be taken for your distinct situation.
If you are facing a homicide charge in Hillsborough County or any other area in Florida, contact the Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys at the Law Offices of Whittel & Melton, LLC online or call 813-221-3200 or toll-free at 1-866-608-5LAW (5529).