Accused of Murder or Manslaughter in Los Angeles? Your Defense Starts Here

Over 20 Years Defending Homicide Charges in Los Angeles — From Manslaughter to First-Degree Murder and Dismissals

Los Angeles Homicide Defense Attorney

If you or someone you love has been charged with murder, attempted murder, or manslaughter in Los Angeles, you are facing the most serious consequences the California justice system can impose, including life in state prison, life without the possibility of parole, and in special circumstances cases, the death penalty. At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, our criminal defense attorney has spent over 20 years defending clients against every category of homicide charge, from involuntary manslaughter to first-degree murder. We know how these cases are built, where they can be challenged, and how to fight when everything is on the line. Contact our office today for a free, confidential consultation with a criminal defense attorney who will fight for your life and your future.

Types of Homicide Offenses We Handle in Los Angeles

Homicide is the legal term for the killing of one human being by another. California law divides homicide into multiple distinct offenses based on the defendant’s mental state, the circumstances of the killing, and the presence of aggravating factors. The specific charge filed against you determines the penalties you face and the defenses available. Our firm defends clients against all of the following homicide-related charges:

First-Degree Murder (Penal Code § 187)

First-degree murder is a willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing. It also includes killings committed by lying in wait, by poison, or by use of a destructive device or weapon of mass destruction. A conviction carries 25 years to life in California state prison. First-degree murder is a strike offense, and it triggers the full force of California’s Three Strikes law for any future offenses. Our firm examines every element of premeditation and deliberation in every first-degree murder case — these are contested legal questions that experienced defense counsel can and does challenge effectively.

Second-Degree Murder (Penal Code § 187)

Second-degree murder is an intentional killing that is not willful, deliberate, and premeditated — or a killing that results from conduct with conscious disregard for human life (implied malice). A conviction carries 15 years to life in state prison. Sentence enhancements can substantially increase that exposure — a prior murder conviction, for example, elevates the sentence to life without the possibility of parole. Our firm challenges both the element of malice and the factual basis for the charge, frequently achieving reductions to voluntary manslaughter where the evidence supports a heat of passion or imperfect self-defense theory.

Special Circumstances Murder (Penal Code § 190.2)

When the prosecution alleges special circumstances — including murder for financial gain, murder of a witness, murder by a defendant with a prior murder conviction, or murder committed during certain felonies such as robbery, kidnapping, rape, or burglary — the case becomes death penalty eligible. Conviction results in either death or life without the possibility of parole. Special circumstances murder cases demand the most experienced defense possible, and our firm approaches every aspect of these cases with the gravity they require.

Felony Murder (Penal Code § 189)

California’s felony murder rule historically held all participants in certain felonies responsible for any death that occurred during the commission of the crime, regardless of intent. California’s 2019 felony murder reform (SB 1437) significantly narrowed this doctrine. Felony murder liability now requires proof that the defendant was the actual killer, acted with intent to kill, or was a major participant in the felony who acted with reckless indifference to human life. Our firm challenges felony murder charges under the reformed standard and pursues resentencing petitions for clients convicted under the old rule.

Attempted Murder — First Degree (Penal Code § 664 / § 187)

First-degree attempted murder requires proof that the defendant took a direct step toward killing another person with willful, deliberate, and premeditated intent to kill. A conviction carries life in state prison with the possibility of parole, plus firearm use enhancements that can add 25 years to life. Attempted murder charges are among the most aggressively prosecuted cases in Los Angeles County and demand an equally aggressive defense.

Attempted Murder — Second Degree (Penal Code § 664 / § 187)

Second-degree attempted murder carries 5, 7, or 9 years in state prison — with significant enhancements for firearm use, great bodily injury, and gang involvement. The line between attempted murder and aggravated assault is often contested in these cases, and our firm has successfully argued for charge reductions where the evidence does not support the level of intent required for an attempted murder conviction.

Voluntary Manslaughter (Penal Code § 192(a))

Voluntary manslaughter is the intentional killing of another person in the heat of passion upon sufficient provocation, or under an honest but unreasonable belief that deadly force was necessary in self-defense — known as imperfect self-defense. It carries 3, 6, or 11 years in state prison. Voluntary manslaughter is frequently the target charge in murder defense negotiations, and achieving a reduction from murder to voluntary manslaughter can mean the difference between a determinate sentence and life in prison.

Involuntary Manslaughter (Penal Code § 192(b))

Involuntary manslaughter is the unintentional killing of another person during the commission of a lawful act performed without due caution, or during the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony. It carries 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison. Our firm defends involuntary manslaughter charges by challenging the element of criminal negligence and the prosecution’s characterization of the defendant’s conduct.

Vehicular Manslaughter (Penal Code § 192(c))

Vehicular manslaughter charges arise when a death results from negligent or unlawful driving. Gross vehicular manslaughter carries 2, 4, or 6 years in state prison. Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated (Penal Code § 191.5) carries 4, 6, or 10 years, with enhanced penalties for defendants with prior DUI convictions. Our firm defends vehicular manslaughter cases with thorough accident reconstruction analysis, toxicology challenges, and expert witness testimony.

How Los Angeles Prosecutors Build Homicide Cases

Homicide prosecutions in Los Angeles are the most resource-intensive cases the District Attorney’s Office handles. Understanding how these cases are constructed is the foundation of an effective defense.

Physical and Forensic Evidence — DNA analysis, fingerprint examination, bloodstain pattern analysis, ballistic evidence, and toxicology results form the evidentiary core of most homicide prosecutions. Our firm works with independent forensic experts to scrutinize how evidence was collected, preserved, and analyzed — challenging flawed methodology, contamination, and conclusions that exceed what the science actually supports.
Eyewitness and Co-Defendant Testimony — Eyewitness testimony is among the least reliable forms of evidence in the criminal justice system. Co-defendants who cooperate in exchange for reduced charges have powerful incentives to shade the truth. Our firm challenges eyewitness reliability through expert testimony on memory and perception, and cross-examines cooperating witnesses with precision to expose inconsistencies and motivations.
Defendant Statements and Confessions — Law enforcement interrogates homicide suspects aggressively, often before they have had the opportunity to consult with an attorney. Statements obtained without proper Miranda warnings, through deceptive interrogation, or under coercive conditions may be suppressible. Our firm examines every statement made by our clients to law enforcement and challenges admissibility wherever constitutional grounds exist.
Cell Phone Location and Digital Evidence — Prosecutors rely heavily on cell site location data, call records, text messages, social media activity, and surveillance footage to place defendants at or near the scene of a homicide. Our firm scrutinizes how digital evidence was obtained — including whether warrants were properly authorized — and works with digital forensic experts to challenge the prosecution’s interpretation of location and communication data.
Gang Evidence and Expert Testimony — In gang-related homicide cases, prosecutors call law enforcement gang experts to testify about gang membership, culture, and the alleged connection between the defendant and a criminal street gang. Gang enhancements in homicide cases can transform a determinate sentence into a life term. Our firm challenges gang expert qualifications, the reliability of their opinions, and the evidentiary basis for every gang enhancement allegation.
Autopsy and Cause of Death Evidence — The medical examiner’s determination of cause and manner of death is a critical piece of evidence in every homicide prosecution. Our firm works with independent forensic pathologists to review autopsy findings, challenge cause of death determinations, and present alternative medical explanations where the evidence supports them.

Homicide Penalties in California: What You Are Facing

Murder:

First-degree murder: 25 years to life in state prison
Second-degree murder: 15 years to life in state prison
Special circumstances murder: life without the possibility of parole or death
Murder with prior murder conviction: life without the possibility of parole

Attempted Murder:

First-degree attempted murder: life with the possibility of parole
Second-degree attempted murder: 5, 7, or 9 years in state prison
Firearm use enhancement: +25 years to life (discharge causing great bodily injury or death)

Manslaughter:

Voluntary manslaughter: 3, 6, or 11 years in state prison
Involuntary manslaughter: 2, 3, or 4 years in state prison
Vehicular manslaughter (gross negligence): 2, 4, or 6 years
Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated: 4, 6, or 10 years

Sentence Enhancements That Apply in Homicide Cases:

Firearm discharge causing death: +25 years to life (PC § 12022.53(d))
Gang enhancement: can convert determinate sentence to life term (PC § 186.22)
Prior murder conviction: mandatory life without parole on subsequent murder
Multiple murder victims: each victim adds a consecutive life term

Defense Strategies in Los Angeles Homicide Cases

No two homicide cases are alike, and no single defense strategy applies to every situation. Our firm conducts an exhaustive, individualized analysis of every case and builds a defense targeting the specific vulnerabilities in the prosecution’s evidence.

Self-Defense and Defense of Others

California law recognizes the right to use deadly force to defend yourself or others from imminent death or great bodily injury. When our client acted in response to a genuine and reasonable threat, our firm builds a compelling self-defense case supported by physical evidence, injury analysis, independent witness accounts, and expert testimony. Under California’s Castle Doctrine, you have no duty to retreat before using deadly force in your own home. Our firm also pursues imperfect self-defense arguments — where the defendant had an honest but unreasonable belief that deadly force was necessary — as a basis for reduction from murder to voluntary manslaughter.

Heat of Passion — Reduction to Voluntary Manslaughter

A murder charge can be reduced to voluntary manslaughter when the killing occurred in the heat of passion upon adequate provocation that would cause a reasonable person to lose self-control. Our firm presents this theory where the facts support it, understanding that a voluntary manslaughter conviction — while serious — carries a determinate sentence rather than a life term and can mean decades of difference in actual time served.

Challenging Premeditation and Deliberation

The difference between first-degree and second-degree murder turns on premeditation and deliberation — legal concepts that require proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Our firm challenges these elements systematically, presenting evidence of the circumstances, the relationship between the parties, and the defendant’s state of mind that is inconsistent with planned, calculated conduct. A successful challenge to premeditation reduces a 25-to-life exposure to 15-to-life.

Alibi and Mistaken Identity

Misidentification contributes to wrongful convictions in homicide cases more than in virtually any other offense category. When the prosecution’s case rests on eyewitness identification, our firm investigates the identification procedure, challenges its reliability, and presents alibi evidence — including surveillance footage, cell phone location data, witness testimony, and financial records — to establish that our client was not present at the scene.

Suppression of Evidence — Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment Violations

If law enforcement conducted an unlawful search, obtained statements without proper Miranda warnings, denied our client access to counsel, or used coercive interrogation techniques, our firm files comprehensive suppression motions to exclude that evidence from trial. In homicide cases, suppressing a confession or a critical piece of physical evidence can fundamentally alter the trajectory of the prosecution.

Challenging Forensic and Expert Evidence

Forensic evidence in homicide cases — DNA, bloodstain patterns, ballistics, toxicology, and cause of death determinations — carries enormous weight with juries. Our firm works with leading independent forensic experts to scrutinize the methodology, reliability, and conclusions underlying every piece of forensic evidence the prosecution intends to present. Challenging expert evidence at the Frye or Daubert standard, cross-examining prosecution analysts rigorously, and presenting competing expert testimony are all tools our firm deploys in homicide defense.

Felony Murder Reform — SB 1437 Resentencing

California’s 2019 felony murder reform significantly narrowed liability for deaths occurring during the commission of a felony. Defendants who were convicted of first or second-degree murder under the old felony murder rule — and who were not the actual killer, did not act with intent to kill, and were not a major participant acting with reckless indifference to human life — may be eligible to petition for resentencing under Penal Code § 1172.6. Our firm evaluates every client’s eligibility for SB 1437 resentencing and has filed successful petitions resulting in reduced charges and immediate release.

Why Clients Facing Homicide Charges in Los Angeles Choose The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi

Homicide cases are the highest-stakes matters in the criminal justice system. The attorney you choose will make decisions that determine whether you spend the rest of your life in prison or walk free. Our firm has spent over 20 years handling these cases in Los Angeles County courtrooms, and we bring that experience, preparation, and dedication to every client we represent.

A Track Record of Results in Homicide and Attempted Murder Cases Our results speak directly to what experienced, aggressive homicide defense looks like in practice. In one case, our client was charged with attempted murder in the Superior Court of California following an incident where self-defense was claimed. After the charge was reduced to attempted voluntary manslaughter with a gang enhancement that carried the potential for a substantially increased prison sentence, Attorney Hashemi filed a PC 995 motion challenging the charges. Following extensive oral arguments, the court found that our client had acted in self-defense and dismissed the case entirely. In another matter involving attempted murder, assault with a firearm, and gang enhancements that carried a potential sentence of 25 years to life, our firm conducted an 18-month investigation that demonstrated our client’s limited involvement in the underlying offenses. The result was a dramatically reduced sentence of six years in state prison rather than the life exposure the charges initially carried.

Two Decades of Homicide Defense Across Every Level Our criminal defense attorney has defended clients against murder, attempted murder, and manslaughter charges in Los Angeles County courtrooms for over 20 years. From preliminary hearings through jury trials, from PC 995 motions to penalty phase proceedings in special circumstances cases, our firm has the courtroom depth that homicide defense demands.

One Attorney on Your Case from First Call to Final Verdict At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi, Attorney Hashemi handles your case personally at every stage. You will never be handed to a junior attorney or managed by a paralegal. In a homicide case, the attorney who knows your case is the attorney who needs to be in that courtroom, and that is exactly how our firm operates.

Trial Experience That Prosecutors Respect Homicide cases go to trial. Prosecutors in these cases do not back down, and the only leverage that produces results is a defense attorney with a proven trial record and the credibility that comes with it. Attorney Hashemi’s two decades of courtroom experience, his command of cross-examination, and his record in serious felony cases give every client a defense that prosecutors take seriously from day one.

Independent Forensic and Expert Witness Resources Effective homicide defense requires access to independent forensic pathologists, DNA analysts, ballistic experts, accident reconstruction specialists, and digital forensic consultants. Our firm works with leading independent experts across every relevant discipline and deploys them strategically to challenge the prosecution’s forensic case at every stage of the proceedings.

Contact a Los Angeles Homicide Defense Attorney Today

If you or a family member has been charged with murder, attempted murder, or manslaughter in Los Angeles, do not wait. Homicide prosecutions move fast, and the decisions made in the earliest days of the defense will shape everything that follows. The prosecution has the full resources of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office behind them — you need a defense attorney with the experience, the preparation, and the determination to match them.

Call our firm immediately or schedule a confidential consultation with Attorney Hashemi using our secure online system. During your free, confidential consultation, we will analyze the specific facts of your case, identify every viable defense, and walk you through your legal options so you can make informed decisions about your defense from day one.

Schedule a Free Consultation:

Phone: (310) 448-1529
Email: Info@hashemilaw.com
Address: 11845 W Olympic Blvd #520, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, with flexible scheduling options available, including weekend appointments.

We are conveniently located in the Westside Towers, serving clients facing homicide charges across Los Angeles County including Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, the San Fernando Valley, Compton, Long Beach, Inglewood, Pasadena, and all surrounding communities. Contact our firm today. Your defense starts the moment you call.