MURDER

 MURDER ATTORNEY IN TYLER, TX

Your Trusted Advocates in State Legal Matters

In Texas, to prove a murder charge prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt one of the following:

1. The defendant intentionally and knowingly caused the death of another person.
2. The defendant intended to cause serious bodily injury, committed an act clearly dangerous to human life, and this act resulted in an individual's death.
3. The defendant committed or attempted a felony (excluding manslaughter) and, in the course of that felony, committed an act clearly dangerous to human life, leading to an individual's death.

To elevate the charge to capital murder, rather than just "murder" in Texas, at least one of the following conditions must apply:

1. The victim is a peace officer or firefighter acting under lawful duty at the time of the crime.
2. The defendant intentionally commits the murder while engaging in or attempting to commit crimes like kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, obstruction or retaliation, or terroristic threats.
3. The defendant is paid to commit murder or pays another person to commit murder.
4. The defendant commits the crime while attempting to escape from a penal institution.
5. The defendant commits murder while in jail.
6. The defendant murders more than one person.
7. The defendant murders a child under ten years of age.
8. The defendant murders someone in retaliation for or on account of a member of the judiciary's service.

There are several potential defenses to capital murder charges in Texas. It's essential to note that if none of the criteria are met for capital murder, the defendant may still be found guilty of a lesser murder charge or a lower-level offense.



Murder and capital murder charges in Texas carry severe penalties. For murder a person can receive 5-99 years or life as a possible sentence. Generally, the punishment for a capital murder in Texas is either a death sentence or life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, if the defendant is declared incapacitated, such as due to mental disability or insanity, they may be spared from the death penalty. In Texas, the minimum age for receiving the death penalty is 17 years. When facing murder or capital murder charges, it is imperative to secure skilled legal representation and mount a robust defense. Mr. Mims and our team of investigators and mitigation specialists have worked with doctors and other experts to resolve over 50 capital murder cases all over the State of Texas. The team at Boren & Mims are highly trained and experienced in this unique area of the law.

First-degree murder (capital murder) in Texas carries severe penalties, and as a state that permits capital punishment, it can lead to a death penalty sentence. Generally, the punishment for a capital felony in Texas is either death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, if the defendant is declared incapacitated, such as due to mental disability or insanity, they may be spared from the death penalty. In Texas, the minimum age for receiving the death penalty is 17 years. When facing capital murder charges, it is imperative to secure skilled legal representation like the attorneys at Boren and Mims, who are well-equipped to navigate the intricacies of Texas capital murder laws and mount a robust defense.